[stylist] New THOUGHT PROVOKER #139- Is There Redemption for a Blind Chicken

[Judith Bron]

There are many things a newly visually impaired person is angry at.  The 
cans they can't read in the grocery store.  The size on that garment in the 
department store.  The fact that the world is visually oriented and you are 
no longer a part of that world.  Frustration, pain, anger and a reticence to 
try those things that will normalize your life.  It's not a matter of 
salvation, but a willingness to deal with reality and live according to a 
brand new bunch of parameters.  Judith
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Robert Newman" <newmanrl at cox.net>
To: "'NFBnet Writer's Division Mailing List'" <stylist at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Monday, November 24, 2008 11:00 PM
Subject: [stylist] New THOUGHT PROVOKER #139- Is There Redemption for a 
Blind Chicken


> Fellow Writers
> RE:  Is There Redemption for a Blind Chicken
>
> Here is THOUGHT PROVOKER #139. It is a true story of one woman's struggle
> with her blindness. Her next story will be about redemption and it I am 
> sure
> be the happier story to read. But hey . there is something to learn in 
> both
> a story of struggle and also one of redemption.
>
> If you have not read the PROVOKER, it follows.  Recall that I collect
> responses and post them upon my web site for all the WWW to read and learn
> from and that URL is- Http://thoughtprovoker.info
> <http://thoughtprovoker.info/>   If you wish to receive THOUGHT PROVOKERS
> sent directly to you, just write me and ask, at-  newmanrl at cox.net
>
>
>
> THOUGHT PROVOKER 139
> Is There Redemption for a Blind Chicken
>
> Co-authors-
> Virginia Sblendorio
> Robert Leslie Newman
>
> "Want to go for a ride?" The voice on the phone was my older sister, who 
> had
> recently moved within a few miles from me. "I have to run to the 
> supermarket
> and pick up a couple of things."
>
> "Sure," I said, I didn't need anything from the store, but not able to 
> drive
> any more, I relish any opportunity to go for a drive no matter how mundane
> the trip.
>
> Hearing my sister's car pull into the driveway, I flipped on the light
> switch for my porch light as I stepped out, fingers brushing the handle of
> my white cane where it rested upright in the corner. It would be twilight 
> or
> even dark by the time I got home.
>
> "Hey little Sis, where's your cane?" asked my older sister as I slipped 
> into
> the front seat? "I saw you feeling with your feet for those steps."
>
> "Oh, just going to the store with you I don't need it." My answer was of
> course to put her off. I wasn't going to share with her the extent to 
> which
> I resented my cane. I rarely used it. It made me stand out in a crowd in a
> way I did not care for.
>
> At the store's parking lot we found it to be nearly full and it was
> necessary to park a long way from the entrance. On the way in we cut 
> through
> rows of cars, which worked well for me, because it put my sister in my 
> best
> visual range and easier to follow. However, nearing the doors there were
> people going every direction, and I lost her in the crowd. But I made it
> inside okay, but the inside lighting was so bright compared to the rapidly
> dimming outdoors, I was essentially blinded.
>
> "Little Sis, if you had that cane, you wouldn't have to just stand there,"
> said my older sister.
>
> I clutched my older sister's arm as she snagged a shopping cart and 
> together
> we went up and down the aisles in tandem.
>
> In the meat department, we found a manager's special on chickens. "Little
> Sis, you love chicken. You should pick up a couple of these," urged my 
> older
> sister and I agreed. I selected two packages, tore the coupons off, and
> pressed their sticky sides to my forearm. Since my sight began to fail me, 
> I
> have found many ways to "remember" what I cannot see. I have often 
> purchased
> things with "redeem at register" coupons attached, only to realize after I
> got home that they were not redeemed. Now I take them off and stick them 
> on
> my forearm so I do not forget.
>
> We finished shopping and headed to the registers to pay. Realizing my 
> items
> were to be first, I spoke up. "Those are the chicken's which were on 
> sale."
>
> "Ah, I don't see the." the cashier began.
>
> "Oh, here they are," I informed him, peeling the stickers off my arm.
> Relishing the opportunity to educate, I politely told him that I was
> visually impaired. I explained why I stuck the coupons to my arm.
>
> "Well ah...I'll have to call over a manager. Ah, company policy."
>
> When the store manager arrived, I again explained myself.
>
> "Interesting, but removing the coupons voids the discount," the manager 
> said
> and his tone left no doubt he was not going to budge.
>
> I was speechless and angry and my thoughts ricocheted in my head like a
> trapped bird. I thought about leaving the chicken and store immediately 
> but
> with my fierce pride, I was not going to ask my sister to leave that store
> to go to another after filling a cart with groceries.
>
> Perhaps I should have had my white cane with me. Perhaps I should have
> laughed it off. Ultimately, I felt powerless. I felt like a coward. I felt
> ashamed of being blind, ashamed of allowing my emotions to get the better 
> of
> me and ashamed of being bullied. I paid for my order and went home with a
> bellyache and a very angry sister.  Stupid cane!
>
>
>
> Robert Leslie Newman
> Email- newmanrl at cox.net
> THOUGHT PROVOKER Website-
> Http://www.thoughtprovoker.info
>
> _______________________________________________
> stylist mailing list
> stylist at nfbnet.org
> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/stylist_nfbnet.org
> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for 
> stylist:
> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/stylist_nfbnet.org/jbron%40optonline.net