[Blindtlk] Fw: [nfb-talk] NEW THOUGHT PROVOKER #146- Blindness Makes Your otherSenses Stronger

[cory McMahon]

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Robert Newman" <newmanrl at cox.net>
To: "nfbtalk" <NFB-talk at NFBnet.org>
Sent: Monday, June 01, 2009 4:30 AM
Subject: [nfb-talk] NEW THOUGHT PROVOKER #146- Blindness Makes Your 
otherSenses Stronger


> NFBtalk friends
> RE:  Blindness Makes Your Other Senses Stronger
>
> This THOUGHT PROVOKER is about one of the more common misconceptions that 
> I
> and you all experience out on the street (maybe at home too). I've learned
> to explain it --- how about you? There is some truth to it, right? If you
> have not read the PROVOKER, it follows.  Recall that I collect responses 
> and
> post them upon my web site for all the WWW to read and learn from and that
> URL is- Http://thoughtprovoker.info <http://thoughtprovoker.info/>   If 
> you
> wish to receive THOUGHT PROVOKERS sent directly to you, just write me and
> ask, at-  newmanrl at cox.net
>
>
> THOUGHT PROVOKER 146
> Blindness Makes Your Other Senses Stronger
>
> "Blindness has made your other senses stronger," said my friend.
>
> "How many times have I heard that one? Let me count the ways." I was out
> running errands and had bumped into a friend. She hadn't seen me for a
> while; once after I was newly blinded, going through lots of heartache and
> adjustment, But not since blindness training. Our conversation had started
> out with catching up, then too predictably morphed exclusively into my
> blindness. This "blindness and senses" thing had come as I was trying to
> change the topic by mentioning I could smell Lilacs.
>
> Back on task, I got moving; had many errands to complete before heading
> home. The reunion with my friend had occurred in an open-air courtyard,
> nestled in the center of a local shopping mall. Re-entering the roofed
> section, still thinking about my friend's opinion that my sense of smell 
> was
> keener than the norm, I started giving my cane an extra hard tap. My
> immediate goal was a pet store and knowing from past trips, that its door
> was recessed, I knew I could locate it if I could get a good echo read on
> it.
>
> "May I help you?" A woman's voice in my path startled me. Then an opening
> door to the right brought the sound of birds and puppies.
>
> "ah, thanks, no." Pointing to the pet store. "I just heard what I'm 
> looking
> for."
>
> "Oh --- ah," the woman responded, first in puzzlement, then realization. 
> "I
> am always so amazed what you people can hear!"
>
> In the store- "I've heard that some of you can feel color." Says the sales
> clerk. I was rubbing the cloth of a cat blanket between thumb and
> forefinger; she had come over to answer a few questions I had.
>
> In a different Isle, lifting a package of cat treats to my nose for a 
> quick
> smell (knowing how picky my cat Catty is), I jerked it away. Thinking, "OH
> MY GOD, get caught, she's going to ask me if you want to taste these?"
>
> Later- "Catty, I'm home. Brought you a present." My cat was a medium size
> short-hair tabby and we had a great relationship. Listening for the 
> silvery
> tinkle of her collar bell, knowing her movements were so smooth that sound
> may not herald her arrival. Since my blindness, Catty had taken to giving 
> me
> more physical contact than before. The cutest example is when she will 
> reach
> out with a paw to touch me, as though she knew I could not see her and it 
> is
> her way of saying, "Here I am." And I heard nothing until the warm length 
> of
> her rubbed against my legs. Setting my purchases down on the hall table I
> picked her up and stroked her soft coat.
>
> "Okay, down girl. We've got other duties. Tomorrow we have company and 
> we've
> got to get this place sparkling."
>
> First was to get the vacuum sweeper going. I had one of those robotic
> sweepers, and it did a great job; my nickname for it is Robby. It is a
> wheeled, flat disk that is 3.5 inches tall by 13 across and looks like a
> ground-hugging flying saucer. With its motorized wheels churning and its
> primitive robotic brain processing, it would independently travel around a
> room in a random pattern and though it took longer to complete the job, 
> the
> key was, it was doing it while you went off and did something else. I 
> pushed
> its start button, sending it off to do its job; closing the doors to the
> living room to box it in.
>
> Later, I ran across my package from this morning and discovered the 
> blanket
> I had bought for Catty. I walked all through the house calling for her;
> didn't hear a single TINK of her bell.
>
> IN the living room, Robby was still tracking back and forth doing his 
> thing,
> and still no Catty. I started to worry, "Had she gotten out?" Thinking,
> "Where were those" near super heightened senses when you need them?"
> Standing there, Robby came trundling up and as he went by, I felt a 
> familiar
> touch on my bare leg. "Catty!" That darn cat was riding Robby!
>
> Read through the above short story and send me your thoughts at:
> newmanrl at cox.net  Recall that I place all responses upon my web site as 
> soon
> as I receive them for all the world to read and learn from and that web 
> site
> url is http://www.thoughtprovoker.info <http://www.thoughtprovoker.info/>
> What IT IS AND HOW IT WORKS: Thought Provoker is an
> independent e-mail discussion forum with the purpose to aid in the effort 
> to
> change what it means to be blind. Participants, both readers and writers
> share their honest feelings and we learn from each other.  I Robert Leslie
> Newman am the author and moderator.  At this time a new PROVOKER runs for
> four weeks.  THOUGHT PROVOKER can be sent directly to anyone who contacts 
> me
> with a request to join the THOUGHT PROVOKER mailing list.  Otherwise I 
> post
> all new THOUGHT PROVOKERS upon my web site "ADJUSTMENT TO BLINDNESS  AND
> VISUAL IMPAIRMENT" for all in the WWW to read and learn from.  In 
> Addition,
> all past PROVOKERS are posted there and can be responded to as well.  I do
> insert commentary after some responses.  But more importantly know that I 
> do
> not edit anyone's response other than run them through a spell checker and
> that's not perfect.            Responses can be written to the Provoker
> itself or to the responses of others.  Think about it, if you feel that 
> any
> response is not complete or does not fully convey the right philosophy,
> write in and give your feelings, provoke thought.  There again, if you do
> choose to respond on the comments of another, take issue with the content
> and not the person.
>     For now it is optional to have your name and any other personal
> information placed with your response.  You write what you want us to 
> know.
> I do feel giving your occupational status and/or location is important 
> (your
> city, state or region and country).
> In regard to a definition of blindness, I am taking the
> broad view that blindness is any level of vision loss which is affecting 
> the
> individual functionally, emotionally, socially, economically, politically,
> etc.
>     If you feel this forum would be of value to another, pass the address
> on.  Additionally, if you no longer wish to receive Provokers, advise me 
> of
> that fact and I will honor it.
> Finally, I give my permission to use this material to
> educate others.  Do give credit back to the forum and the respondent. 
> Thank
> you.
>
>
> Robert Leslie Newman
> Email- newmanrl at cox.net
> THOUGHT PROVOKER Website-
> Http://www.thoughtprovoker.info
>
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