[nagdu] beginning to use a cane

[Tami Kinney]

True. There is clearly no hope for me.

A friend gave some mutual acquaintances an entertaining of me and Mitzi 
the other day, mentioning that I am just like my poodle. /lol/ I tried 
to feel huffy about that, but... If the curls fit. Besides, my poodle is 
a pretty cool character, so I can't complain with being compared to her. 
/lol/

Tami

On 12/22/2011 04:15 PM, Larry D. Keeler wrote:
> Human? But you hang around with a poodle! Hahaha!!
> ----- Original Message ----- From: "Tami Kinney" <tamara.8024 at comcast.net>
> To: "NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users"
> <nagdu at nfbnet.org>
> Sent: Thursday, December 22, 2011 5:52 PM
> Subject: Re: [nagdu] beginning to use a cane
>
>
>> Sheila,
>>
>> Well said! That's my attitude, too, so that when others are trying to
>> make sure I notice that I am less than human and not fit to be in
>> their space breathing their air, I simply continue to believe I am
>> human and behave accordingly. In other words, i just go around being
>> me without reference to what other people think I am. If I get a
>> chance, I smile brightly at whichever fool is making the point to all
>> around the there is a nonhuman presence who does not belong there. If
>> it's appropriate, I even toss off a cheery greeting or parting or
>> something. "Have a nice day!"
>>
>> I do not do this because I am a nice person. I do this because I know
>> that it is the meanest thing in the world I can do to someone like
>> that, especially if they are carrying on this way in public. /lol/ My
>> response to them, as if they are just people like me alters the
>> attitudes, expressions, etc. of the captive audience. I can even feel
>> the change in how everyone is breathing. So I maintain my cheery smile
>> on a vengeance is sweet basis and just go on my way, sharing wry
>> chitchat with those who say something to me in a respectful, courteous
>> or kind tone. My work here is done!
>>
>> Beauty of all that corporate experience I started on when I was so
>> young. One does learn to play power games to win. Teehee.
>>
>> Okay, I'm an obnoxious twit, but I am *not* a second class citizen as
>> a woman or as a blind woman. Though it's funny. I'm reading a
>> discussion on another list about people who grab blind people. As
>> always, I am shocked by how many blind people believe that we should
>> appreciate that people are so helpful that they will grab us forcibly
>> to lead us where they think we should go. To me, since that is not
>> considered an appropriate way for people to treat people, I do not
>> believe it is an acceptable way for people to treat me. It took me a
>> bit to learn to adapt my usual methods of both verbal and nonverbal
>> communication once others started identifying me as "not people," but
>> by now I've got a working repertoire of responses to use for any
>> occasion to ensure these sorts grasp that what they are doing is not
>> okay and that I am not grateful. Besides, if I need help, I will ask
>> for it, and I will ask for the specific help I need. If I do not ask
>> for help, then it can be safely assumed I do not need help because
>> I've got it covered. Thank you very much. /lol/
>>
>> We will just not talk about people who try to help by grabbing the
>> cane or the handle on the guide dog harness... Oh, I think not! What
>> is wrong with people who do that, anyway. Oh, never mind. /smile/
>>
>> Tami
>>
>> On 12/22/2011 08:49 AM, Sheila Leigland wrote:
>>> I see many interesting posts on the subject on the cane. The most
>>> disturbing one for me have to do with the perceptions of being a
>>> second class citizen or worse than that. I'm not a second class
>>> citizen or worse than that and I won't accept that kind of treatment
>>> from anyone. I had to learn to stand up for myself and my right to
>>> take up space on this planet and noone will take that away from me.
>>>
>>> Sheila Leiglan d
>>>
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>>
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