Happy Monday! Martin Luther King Day in the US so there is no school. I forgot and had my ride scheduled so I had to cancel. Oh well….
Home and doing odds and ends. Lin reminded me it was the end of January two years ago I started on this ‘adventure’ in earnest. I should have given it more thought myself. It is now ski weather here and I have been trying to find ways to the slopes. People don’t like to give me the time of day when I contact organizations.
They imagine being in charge of some decrepit, old, blind woman flailing her white cane as she flies down the slope! Not exactly the case. Many of us are actually very competent and independent given our vision losses.
Vision loss bring up thoughts of skiing? Yeah, sorry. It was right after a glorious day on the slopes that I ‘lost’ my second eye just about two years ago. I was in a tizzy. But keep in mind, I was skiing three times last year (thanks to my husband and the daughter of a friend) and I am going to try to get there three times this year. And if I get there and discover I am no longer capable? I tried.
That is probably one of the things I like to preach about vision loss, or at least my level of vision loss. (You can never tell how you may react if given a greater challenge so be kind to yourself). You never know until you try. There are all sorts of ways to skin the proverbial cat (although I am not sure why you would want to!) and you just may have to try a few of them before you hit upon one that works.
The flip side of that coin is this: if you are a caregiver, friend, spouse, child, whatever to a visually impaired person, give us a chance and let us try. As long as we are not going to cause mayhem or mass destruction, what is the harm? Sure, be there to bail us out if you insist, but let us try.
Now remember, I am not talking about operating heavy machinery – yes, such as a car – but walking, skiing, riding a bike, even things like using the microwave or the washer; I am pretty sure many of us can have those things covered if given the chance.
Our vision loss has taken away some of our independence. Please don’t take away the rest.
When we started this project, I was asked what I thought others could do to help the newly visually impaired. I said it would be to support that person in continuing to be herself. Looking back, I agree with myself.
So I guess my message for our second anniversary would be this: Find ways to be you. AMD has taken part of your sight, not part of your soul. Find people who will help you to remain yourself, foster your talents and promote your interests. If they are not in your life now. Find them.
Remember, you need you and we need you, too.
And now I guess I need to try somebody who will give me a ride to the slopes!
Written 1/15/2018