<html><head><meta http-equiv="content-type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"></head><body dir="auto">Marion, this is very nice thank you<br><br><div dir="ltr"><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><i>Janet Beyer</i></span></div><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><i>Board Member</i></span></div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">City of Tampa Mayor’s Alliance for people with Disabilities </span><br><div>Cell. 813.253.9270</div></div><div dir="ltr"><br><blockquote type="cite">On Mar 6, 2023, at 10:01 AM, marion.gwizdala--- via NFBF-L <nfbf-l@nfbnet.org> wrote:<br><br></blockquote></div><blockquote type="cite"><div dir="ltr"><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"><meta name="Generator" content="Microsoft Word 15 (filtered medium)"><!--[if !mso]><style>v\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);}
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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--><div class="WordSection1"><p class="MsoNormal">Dear Federation Family,<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"> I received this from another blindness list and thought it was worthwhile sharing! I hope you enjoy the read!<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">Fraternally yours,<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">Marion Gwizdala<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">Over There.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">>As my guide dog 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.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">"Where are the napkins please?"<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">Her response was hurried, but sincere, "over there."<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">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<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">63?"<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">A kind voice offered a pleasant response before disappearing into the cacophony of the early afternoon, 'You can catch it, 'Over there.'"<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">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<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">and indispensable items and locales all reside in this place which is shrouded in mystery and intrigue.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">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.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">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<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">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.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">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.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">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<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">of<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">a truck bearing down on me from over there. Shadow artfully dodged the oncoming vehicle and pulled me to the safety of the curb.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">Our hearts were both racing as we took a few moments to compose > ourselves.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">Close encounters with over there can be frightening experiences. Although many blind people have wondered as to the exact location of, "over there,", few<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">have dared to venture forth in an actual exploration of the mysterious place.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">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<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">that the aspirin was located, "over there." <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">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.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">Taking a deep breath, and attempting to look nonchalant, I smiled at the clerk, "Where," I asked, "is over there?"<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">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<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">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<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">there!"<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">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<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">Shadow's harness, we would soon be going over there!<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">The clerk's voice reeked with resignation as the decision was made. "That way," she said.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">******.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">Everyone understands that, right? <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p><div><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"><span style="color:white">_._,_._,_<o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="margin-bottom:0in;text-align:center;line-height:normal"><hr size="2" width="100%" align="center"></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal">Groups.io Links:<o:p></o:p></p><p>You receive all messages sent to this group. <o:p></o:p></p><p><a href="https://groups.io/g/FreedomGuideDogsFamily/message/6199" target="_blank">View/Reply Online (#6199)</a> | <a href="mailto:FreedomGuideDogsFamily@groups.io?subject=Re:%20Re%3A%20%5BFreedomGuideDogsFamily%5D%20OT%20over%20there" target="_blank">Reply To Group</a> | <a href="mailto:kay511@charter.net?subject=Private:%20Re:%20Re%3A%20%5BFreedomGuideDogsFamily%5D%20OT%20over%20there" target="_blank">Reply To Sender</a> | <a href="https://groups.io/mt/97423893/6304130" target="_blank">Mute This Topic</a> | <a href="https://groups.io/g/FreedomGuideDogsFamily/post">New Topic</a><br><a href="https://groups.io/g/FreedomGuideDogsFamily/editsub/6304130">Your Subscription</a> | <a href="mailto:FreedomGuideDogsFamily+owner@groups.io">Contact Group Owner</a> | <a href="https://groups.io/g/FreedomGuideDogsFamily/leave/10538001/6304130/1201749883/xyzzy">Unsubscribe</a> [marion.gwizdala@verizon.net]<o:p></o:p></p><div><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"><span style="color:white">_._,_._,_<o:p></o:p></span></p></div></div><span>_______________________________________________</span><br><span>NFBF-L mailing list</span><br><span>NFBF-L@nfbnet.org</span><br><span>http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nfbf-l_nfbnet.org</span><br><span>To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for NFBF-L:</span><br><span>http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nfbf-l_nfbnet.org/janetnfb%40gmail.com</span><br></div></blockquote></body></html>