[nagdu] Second trip out with cane, and more questions!

[Gail]

Hello all! 
 
 
Ok, second day, and thought I would see if I could line my Cocoon sunglasses
with dark polarfleece, to take the place of sleep shades (plus look more 
normal' to people in our nosy little town!). Walked a lot slower, but did a
lot more listening to what was going on around me, and checking out
landmarks. Funny thing was, I wasnt catching the tip in things even a third
as much as I was yesterday. But I must have looked silly sometimes, when I
would stop to listen for a telephone pole I knew was near the corner, so I
would stop, feel with the cane on the grass for it, then, frustrated, slowly
waved it though the air like a demented orchestra conductor! <grin> Finally
gave up and cheated, lifted up my shades enough to look for it.....was just
about 3 feet away from the end of the cane's reach, grrr. Put shades back on
 and stood and listened for it for a while, but no cars came by to make it
make sounds. 
 
It was funny, when I came back in, my kids were like, 'MOM, what are you
doing?!' I took off the shades and plopped them on my daughter, and she goes
'you walked all the way to the corner like this?!" Then I gave shades and
cane to my youngest son, and told him to Braille the room. Guess who has
more respect for the trips I take now? <grin> 
 
Ok, here come the questions: being alone in my learning, should I use
sleepshades when I am out training? Or is that too dangerous? And do I wear
them just when I am training at home, or also when out and about with my
husband, when we go to town while I'm still learning? Thats the only time I
leave our town-Topeka is our nearest decent town.

Well, tomorrow will tell the tale-thats when my appointment is with that
State doctor. Please God, things work out...


Gail