I just can't imagine being blind.
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I can't imagine being blind in Manhattan.
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I'm humbled every time I encounter a person without sight in this city.
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I saw a man get on the bus tonight, with his stick helping him find the way in front of him. He stumbled into his seat. This man, without sight, navigating the New York City bus system. Amazing. It took me long enough to figure my way around with sight. We got off at the same stop, so I offered my arm & walked him to the club where he was going to swim laps. He was friendly & approachable. I normally don't talk to strangers. New York is an interesting place in that people do not easily receive nor give help. It felt nice to do something nice - & to have it be well received.
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There was another time, a few years ago, where a blind man got my attention on the street & asked if he could take my arm & walk a few blocks with me. I didn't know if he was hitting on me, or really needed my help {only in New York}. Turns out he really was blind. He was kind enough to tell me that I sounded like a pretty girl.
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I need to remember these brave people on grey days. I'm lucky enough to know they are grey.
6 comments:
There is a professor in my department who is completely blind (doesn't even detect light). She is very high functioning, but I never know when I should step in and ask if she needs help. She bumps into things all the time. A visiting faculty member from Stanford said that she was there giving a lecture when the fire alarm went off. Can you imagine being blind in a place you have never been before in a fire? It must have been terrifying.
I can't figure out how she reads-- I'm pretty sure that the kind of obscure journals she reads and publishes in aren't printed in braille.
It somehow makes our "challenges" seem a little more petty, doesn't it?
Did you see Dancing with the Stars last night? ...How Marlee Matlin (the deaf girl) absolutely thrilled the audience with her gracefulness and perfect timing - without hearing a thing? Ck. it out on U Tube if you didn't see it. I believe that people with hearing or seeing challenges often have magnified abilities in other areas which explains their ability to manage so well. BUT - we should always ask if we can help - It is a kind thing to do on many levels. Way to go Kathryn!
Sweet sweet post Kathryn, and so true. Was the man you helped today an older man that got off the bus at 86th? I've walked with him before and he kept saying how he didn't want me to go out of my way. All I could think of was how very little I was even doing for him! It really would be such a challenge to be blind and I'm grateful for my eyes that can see too.
Jill, he was older- but we got off at 91st (in front of the Vinegar factory). He was so, so nice.
What a good reminder of how much we have to be grateful for.
I was always amazed when I saw blind people in the city too - and it always felt like there were many more than you would expect. The first time I came upon a blind person I was with a co-worker and she quickly offered him help. We walked with him to the subway and helped him down, then he told us he could continue on without us and he knew exactly where to stop on the track (something that took me a while to figure out when I was new to the city). The second time was in the mess that is called Times Square. I helped a man up to Toys R Us so he could buy a toy for his grandchild. It is inspiring to see they don't let this disability stop them.
Good work!
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