[nagdu] Over There

[Kristen]

I find it funny how people will say "over there" when they see we 
have guide dogs.

I've had people say that it's easier to grab my arm and take me 
"over there" than to give directions. My grandma is famous for 
that; I sometimes asked her to guide me before I had Corvette 
because she was so bad at directions. She is also losing her 
memory, so that may be part of why she thinks it's still okay.
--
Kristen


 ----- Original Message -----
From: "Craig Heaps" <craig.heaps at comcast.net
To: "Kristen" <kskristen at gmail.com>,"NAGDU Mailing List,the 
National Association of Guide Dog Users" <nagdu at nfbnet.org
Date sent: Thu, 5 Jun 2014 09:08:23 -0700
Subject: Re: [nagdu] Over There

That's terrific.  I know that on BART trains most of the empty 
seats are
"over there".  I know because people tell me that's where they 
are.

The other extreme is the person who, when I say, "Is there a seat 
available
for me and my guide dog?", grabs my arm and drags me "over 
there."

Craig and Chase

----- Original Message -----
From: "Kristen via nagdu" <nagdu at nfbnet.org
To: <nagdu at nfbnet.org
Sent: Thursday, June 05, 2014 8:08 AM
Subject: [nagdu] Over There


I do not know who wrote this, but I bet we have all experienced 
the very
same thing. I found it on a Facebook group and thought it would 
be
appropriate here:

  "Over There"
  As my guide dog Shadow and I stood in line at the checkout of 
the River
 City Market at CSUS, I asked the cashier what I considered a 
simple
 question. "Where are the napkins please?"
  Her response was hurried, but sincere, "over there."
  Emerging from the light rail for the first time, I managed to 
catch the
 attention of a passer-by. "Please sir, can you tell me where I 
might catch
 bus 63?"
  A kind voice offered a pleasant response before disappearing 
into the
 cacophony of the early afternoon, "You can catch it, Over 
there."
  So many things reside over there -- napkins, bus stops, 
pencils, pens,
 clothing racks, department stores and even my shoes! A never 
ending supply
 of important and indispensable items and locales all reside in 
this place
 which is shrouded in mystery and intrigue. I stand in perplexed 
silence
 after learning that something is over there. It is a place I 
have never
 been and have no hope of finding on my own.
  My guide dog is quite skilled in finding chairs, stairs, 
elevators,
 escalators, helping me cross streets, and can even find me the 
Diet Pepsi
 display at Food Town; however, when I tell her to find "over 
there", her
 little bottom hits the floor and a small whimper tells me that 
she is as
 confused as I.
  We will not be going "over there" today. Over there has caused 
me abit of
 vexation, a lot of confusion and, on occasion, made my heart 
race. I have
 discovered that "over there" can be a dangerous place.
  One day while crossing a street, I heard a driver's irritated 
voice shout
 out a warning of a truck bearing down on me from over there. 
Shadow
 artfully dodged the oncoming vehicle and pulled me to the safety 
of the
 curb. Our hearts were both racing as we took a few moments to 
compose
 ourselves.
  Close encounters with over there can be frightening 
experiences. Although
 many blind people have wondered as to the exact location of, 
"over
 there,", few have dared to venture forth in an actual 
exploration of the
 mysterious place.
  One day, while standing in line at the supermarket, I asked the 
clerk
 where I might find the aspirin. With a cheery smile in her 
voice, she
 informed me that the aspirin was located, "over there."
  With a weary sigh, I decided that I would take the extra step 
that would
 unravel the mystery, which had vexed my compatriots since the 
beginning of
 time.
  Taking a deep breath, and attempting to look nonchalant, I 
smiled at the
 clerk, "Where," I asked, "is over there?" I imagined the girl's 
shocked
 expression. I felt her sharing condescending and concerned looks 
with her
 fellows in the store. The silence grew palpable as they mulled 
the
 possibility of allowing a blind person access to the forbidden 
land. She
 had no choice; she would have to tell me how to find "over 
there!"
  I had won! Exhilaration swept through me as I waited in 
breathless
 anticipation. A victorious smile crept to my lips, my hand 
tightened on
 the handle of Shadow's harness, we would soon be going over 
there!
  The clerk's voice reeked with resignation as the decision was 
made. "That
 way," she said.
 --
 Kristen

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