[stylist] To ponder- taken to another level

Sun Feb 10 01:05:51 UTC 2013

You know how it is when you look back on a situation, you can always thing 
of what you could have done. I do wish I had said something to her - she was 
seated in the hairdresser's chair when I was leaving. I walked by him and 
gave him a tip and he always gives me a hug. That would have been the 
perfect time to just lean over a bit and say "hi" to her - Mrs. Smugness 
Herself. lol

Lynda

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Donna Hill" <penatwork at epix.net>
To: "'Writer's Division Mailing List'" <stylist at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Saturday, February 09, 2013 4:42 PM
Subject: Re: [stylist] To ponder- taken to another level

> Lynda,
> It's weird that she would be like that in front of the other people in the
> shop. You'd think she'd want to be seen in a more positive light. I think 
> we
> get these expectations of people because we think they'd know better or
> they're in similar situations, and then we find out they may be worse than
> those who have no reason to know how to act. I don't know, I just wish 
> you'd
> said Hi to her. I think that would have thrown her for a loop! What, you
> thought I wanted you to do that out of kindness or politeness? No, it can 
> be
> a real wake up call and make people feel like crap. Talk about smug! 
> *grin*
> Donna
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: stylist [mailto:stylist-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Lynda 
> Lambert
> Sent: Saturday, February 09, 2013 4:08 PM
> To: Writer's Division Mailing List
> Subject: Re: [stylist] To ponder- taken to another level
>
> Donna, I was asked to join the knitting group after I lost my sight so she
> knows quite well I cannot see who she is. My friend who is a physical
> therapist takes me to the knitting meetings. This was disappointing to me.
> I felt as though out in public she did not want to acknowledge she even 
> knew
> me. BTW, she has an adult autistic son! And, she works in a government
> office that trains low income people for jobs. I think that is what really
> stings - she is not a person who is unfamiliar with people who have
> disabilities. I think it was smug! Hey, I have not heard or used that word
> in my distant memory - smug!  What a nasty word that is! It felt like I 
> was
> swearing as I wrote it. lol
>
>
>
> Lynda
>
>
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Donna Hill" <penatwork at epix.net>
> To: "'Writer's Division Mailing List'" <stylist at nfbnet.org>
> Sent: Saturday, February 09, 2013 3:14 PM
> Subject: Re: [stylist] To ponder- taken to another level
>
>
>> Lynda,
>> They deserve that little tap. On the other hand, you knew that woman; she
>> could just as easily say that you ignored her. I'm sure that wasn't what
>> was
>> actually going on, but just as an idea, why don't you consider saying
>> something next time? It could be as inocent as, "Hi, you're Peg from
>> knitting aren't you?" Some people are extremely uncomfortable about
>> talking
>> to blind people. She might think you would probably start crying all over
>> the place about how you miss knitting so much and wish you could still do
>> it. She has prejudices that are not going to help either her or her loved
>> ones should any of them lose their sight.
>> Donna
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: stylist [mailto:stylist-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Lynda
>> Lambert
>> Sent: Saturday, February 09, 2013 10:02 AM
>> To: Writer's Division Mailing List
>> Subject: Re: [stylist] To ponder- taken to another level
>>
>> Yes, Bridgit, I had just responded to this topic before I read your note
>> here. I spoke of my husband's inability to spell - which he would not
>> appreciate me talking about, I am sure. We will be  married 52 years in
>> April,; I guess he would not be surprised that I said this about him.
>>
>> Yes, I also have retained my visual way of doing things but have had to
>> adapt to make it work because I have to do most things non-visually these
>> days. I am on the Krafters-Korner NFB list and have received many good
>> tops
>> there to help me re-learn how to do things I used to do. That group has
>> been
>> wonderful in helping each other through challenges we have in doing 
>> things
>> non-visually.
>>
>> I have never been blind in my dreams - and I dream constantly. I am never
>> blind in my own consciousness unless I am faced with an uncomfortable or
>> frightening situation and then I find that I become very blind at times.
>> Mostly that happens when I am out and come upon someone who knows me 
>> well,
>> and they do not know that I can tell they are there - and they choose to
>> be
>> silent and not even acknowlege I am there. This happened yesterday at the
>> beauty shop.  I was aware that a woman came into the shop as she passed 
>> by
>> me. I had a feeling I might know her because my hairdresser called her
>> "Peg." That is an unusual name, and I have only known about two Pegs or
>> Peggy's in my life. So I was alert, wondering if this was one that I 
>> know.
>> Shortly, she was seated in the waiting area and I came in there to get my
>> purse to pay for my services. I was only 3 feet from her, and she was
>> facing
>> me. I see shadows, but no details, so I could tell the person was looking
>> directly at me. Absolute quiet! Not a hint that she knew me.  As I had
>> been
>> listening to her for awhile, I recognized her voice as she spoke with
>> others. It was definitely a lady from my knitting group who has known me
>> for
>> a couple of years. I have sat with her in small groups of knitters at
>> different homes. I have been in her home on several occasions. Yet, when
>> she
>> ran into me at the hair dressers, she chose to be quiet and wait it out -
>> not in any way indicating we knew each other. My husband arrived, and as
>> we
>> drove home I told him what has just happened to me. This is the kind of
>> thing I mean, when I say at times I feel very blind. This is the kind of
>> encounter only a blind person would have - because she has no idea I can
>> tell who she is, so she chose to ignore me.
>>
>> My daughters and grand daughters often tell me how people will stare at 
>> me
>> because they see me walking with a long white cane. It amazes them how a
>> perfect stranger will stand beside me in line at a restaurant and 
>> actually
>> turn around and be looking directly at me because they think I cannot see
>> them. But, I can tell they are doing it. It is times like this when I
>> "accidently" hit them with my cane as I walk by.
>>
>>
>> Lynda
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> ----- Original Message -----
>> From: "Bridgit Pollpeter" <bpollpeter at hotmail.com>
>> To: <stylist at nfbnet.org>
>> Sent: Saturday, February 09, 2013 3:29 AM
>> Subject: [stylist] To ponder- taken to another level
>>
>>
>>> Lynda,
>>>
>>> I agree with you on this topic. Despite my blindness, I'm a very visual
>>> person. I lost my sight nine years ago, but I continue to be an
>>> extremely visual person.
>>>
>>> I have learned Braille though, and studies have shown that when learning
>>> Braille, even when not able to see at all, the brain is using its visual
>>> aspect.
>>>
>>> Each Braille character represents a letter in the alphabet and the exact
>>> punctuation as print. Essentially it's a tactile form of print. People
>>> assume it's paramount to a foreign language, but Braille is the exact
>>> same language using the same rules for grammar, punctuation and
>>> spelling, just in a tactile form. Various languages have their version
>>> of Braille since many languages have nuances.
>>>
>>> I too have wondered how people who have never been able to see visualize
>>> things. I once asked a friend if he "saw" his dreams, and he said he
>>> dreams with his other senses, which is very interesting.
>>>
>>> I also met a fellow Federationist who is totally blind and always been,
>>> and she was an art major at one of the big universities in Texas. Of
>>> course there are blind medical doctors and engineers along with others
>>> working in what would seem like very visual fields, and this doesn't
>>> cover all the interests and hobbies like crafts, cars and athletics.
>>>
>>> I think more and more blind people are facing challenges, and instead of
>>> thinking about limitations, they are figuring out how to hurdle that
>>> obstacle.
>>>
>>> I do agree that I've met several blind people who misspell words
>>> frequently, but I don't know if this is due to an inability to spell, if
>>> they were not taught correctly or if they just don't edit before sending
>>> material. I think a lot of people have this problem, blind and sighted.
>>> JAWS is great for this because you actually hear the word, that is if
>>> you take time to read through what you wrote, grin. But yes, I think
>>> people who only know Braille can find difficulties when switching to
>>> print on a keyboard. Many choose to use a Braille display and/or Braille
>>> keyboard. I' not saying all Braille users are like this, but I have met
>>> many who are.
>>>
>>> Ultimately, these things are most likely unique to individuals and not
>>> necessarily a result of a disability. If you can't spell when blind,
>>> chances are good you couldn't spell if sighted, smile.
>>>
>>> Sincerely,
>>>
>>> Bridgit Kuenning-Pollpeter, editor, Slate & Style
>>> Read my blog at:
>>> http://blogs.livewellnebraska.com/author/bpollpeter/
>>>
>>> "If we discover a desire within us that nothing in this world can
>>> satisfy, we should begin to wonder if perhaps we were created for
>>> another world."
>>> C. S. Lewis
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> Message: 1
>>> Date: Fri, 8 Feb 2013 13:02:00 -0500
>>> From: "Lynda Lambert" <llambert at zoominternet.net>
>>> To: "Writer's Division Mailing List" <stylist at nfbnet.org>
>>> Subject: Re: [stylist] Quote to ponder - taken to another level
>>> Message-ID: <D52994C7F7964817A957168910B552B3 at Lambert>
>>> Content-Type: text/plain; format=flowed; charset="iso-8859-1";
>>> reply-type=original
>>>
>>> This is a really good question, Robert.
>>> I have noticed that so many blind people spell things so wonky, and
>>> maybe
>>> this is why. I always wonder is spelling is  really taught and learned
>>> visually. I really have no experience with any of the discussion on
>>> Braille
>>> because I do not use it - I do everything with electronics and some
>>> things
>>> with a CCTV.   I have only had sight loss for 5 years, so I really have
>>> no
>>> idea how blind children learn things like spelling, grammar, formatting,
>>> and
>>> punctuation. To me, they are all visual, and it is very hard for me to
>>> understand it any other way - well, I really don't understand it any
>>> other
>>> way. When I am reading (listening to a voice on a machine) I am still
>>> listening visually. I see it in my mind, and if I cannot see it that
>>> way,
>>> it's confusing to me.  Auditory skills  would rate very low  for me.
>>> Everyone has strength in certain skills and ways of learning - and I am
>>> a
>>> Visual learner above all else. That did not change - I still have to be
>>> able
>>> to SEE it to remember it - I have to stop and SEE a picture in my mind
>>> before it sticks with me.
>>> Writing and reading, for me, has always been a visual experience.  This
>>> makes me wonder, can a person who has always been blind be a Visual
>>> learner?
>>> And, then, I wonder, how does a blind person visualize things?  These
>>> are
>>> some things I am thinking about and working with a blind painter friend
>>> to
>>> put together an exhibition on how people  see and visualize.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> _______________________________________________
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>>
>>
>>
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