[Nfb-krafters-korner] OT: lost in a snowy night

Thu Jan 2 22:19:28 UTC 2014

Even with a cane I am often nervous. Or with a dog

-----Original Message-----
From: Nfb-krafters-korner [mailto:nfb-krafters-korner-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
Behalf Of Powers, Terry (NIH/NCI) [E]
Sent: Thursday, January 02, 2014 3:41 PM
To: 'List for blind crafters and artists'
Subject: Re: [Nfb-krafters-korner] OT: lost in a snowy night

Thanks for the story.  Someone sure was looking out for you.  Where was your
cane or guide dog.  I would have been afraid to go out in the snow without a
cane.  You might have been able to tell the drive way from the grass, with a
cane.
Terry P.
Bye the way, when does the lets go round loom class start?  This Friday?  

-----Original Message-----
From: Becky Frankeberger [mailto:b.butterfly at comcast.net]
Sent: Thursday, January 02, 2014 4:37 PM
To: 'List for blind crafters and artists'
Subject: Re: [Nfb-krafters-korner] OT: lost in a snowy night

Oh Cathy, I am shaking in my shoes picturing this event. The Angels were
with you guiding you back home. 

Warm safe hugs,

Becky and Jake
-----Original Message-----
From: Nfb-krafters-korner [mailto:nfb-krafters-korner-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
Behalf Of Cathy
Sent: Wednesday, January 01, 2014 8:14 PM
To: nfb-krafters-korner at nfbnet.org
Subject: [Nfb-krafters-korner] OT: lost in a snowy night

Hello all,

Totally off topic for crafts but I just could not resist!

You are my friends and I wanted to share this. It has been snowing for days
here in northeastern Ohio with no end to the snow in sight. Every step
outside is an adventure. Tonight when I was taking my dog out in the snow, I
remembered that years ago I had been actually lost in the snow and the
experience affected me so deeply that I wrote a piece about it. thought I'd
share it with you. those of you who live in snowy parts of the world will
probably relate to it and those of you who don't have snow can be thankful
that you don't!

Cathy F

Lost In a Snowy Night

December 2004

It started out to be a simple trip out to the curb with a full dumpster of
garbage, but ended up being a rather unsettling adventure.  It was snowing
fairly hard as I dragged the trash from the garage and started down the
driveway.  I was surprised at the amount of snow that had collected on the
driveway and with the usual slight depressions, bumps and rough spots on the
driveway hidden under the snow; I found it difficult to be sure if I was
continuing straight down the driveway.  Quickly the echoing sound of my
steps from the opened garage faded and I could hear only the hiss of snow
falling and somewhere far away the muffled sound of traffic.  I kept moving
carefully along feeling with my feet for the ridge of snow piled up that
would indicate the side of the driveway.  But I couldn't find it. So I
turned hopefully in another direction and tripped over a pile of snow that
looked more like a snowman than a bank of snow at the side of the driveway.
Mildly frustrated now, I turned in another direction, still feeling with my
feet for the flat surface of the driveway, or perhaps by now it was the
street. I listened but no cars passed, no friendly neighbors opened a Dorr
so that I might call for help.  The only sound continued to be the hissing
snow.  Finally I stood still straining to hear any identifiable sound like a
flag clanking against its pole or a tree blowing in the wind.  I decided
that I would try to find a house and thus orient myself. What I heard was
the sound of a rattling trash bag. Ok, I thought I will head for that and
then know that I am on the street in front of the house of some neighbor.
By now, I had abandoned my own dumpster somewhere behind me in the snow. I
headed for and located the trash can.  I attempted to walk around it to
determine which direction led to the street and which to the neighbors'
driveway. Finally I determined where I thought the street was and began to
walk, but in which direction I still didn't know. Was I on my side of the
street or the opposite side? Was I heading for my house or away from it?  It
was perplexing and I was becoming cold.  Then I remembered that in my pocket
I had my Braille compass, the one I had just received for Christmas.  Taking
it out of my pocket I attempted to read it which was difficult with my hands
so cold I could barely feel a thing.  Finally however I was able to
determine via the compass in which direction I was facing.  I shuffled
carefully through the snow till I came to a flat space indicating that I had
likely come to the end of a driveway at the edge of the rode. I followed the
snow bank slowly up the driveway till I found cars parked and could hear
that a large object, likely a house was nearby.  So far, so good, but it
wasn't my house I knew because I did not have a car in my driveway and my
garage was open.  So I made my way back down the driveway following the snow
bank again to the road. I checked my direction again with the compass and
again started walking along the road. Still no cars and no sound. But
finally I came to another cleared space and my spirits rose hoping that this
time I would be in my own driveway.  You can imagine my delight when I heard
the echoing sound of my feet in the opened garage entrance. I was home and
thanks in large part to my Braille compass. I had thought the compass might
come in handy someday if I got lost, but certainly didn't expect it to
happen just a day after I received it, and I certainly didn't expect to get
lost in my own front yard.   

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