[nfbwatlk] Another device to help us "see"

[Debby Phillips]

Mike, I think we understand you.  Many of us have been cane 
users.  It's tempting sometimes, trust me.  I think folks who are 
good cane travelers and maybe aren't into dogs, don't understand 
why we would want all the work and responsibility.  And I say, 
hey, I don't mind all the work, (most of the time) but if you do 
not like the idea, then you definitely should use your cane and 
happy trails! During my time at CCB, I became very attached to my 
cane.  Lol.  And when it broke when I was working at Lighthouse 
last summer, I was kind of sad.  That cane was the one I used for 
my drop-offs, and my Monster Route.

When I travel with my dog and we have a difficult route, things 
happen, the bond between us gets tighter because we have gone 
through this experience together.

When I got my first dog, I was not a very confident traveler, 
although I had good cane skills.  I started venturing out more in 
the beginning because my dog needed work.  Then after I got 
married and we moved to Colville, well....  Some of you know how 
dreadful that was for me, so I won't go into that.  But one of 
the best things that ever happened to me was going to CCB.  I 
still have a cruddy sense of direction in some ways, but I am not 
so afraid to go, and would do so even if I didn't have Nova.  The 
only thing that I don't enjoy with a cane is going for walks.  
With Nova I enjoy just going for walks for the pure pleasure of 
moving.  Well, I need to go to work, so it's time to catch the 
bus.    Debby