[stylist] second draft

Sat Feb 1 22:58:12 UTC 2014

Thanks, it is actually the second draft, but it changed so much from the 
first one that it feels like the first draft.

Write On,
Atty

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Applebutter Hill" <applebutterhill at gmail.com>
To: "'Writer's Division Mailing List'" <stylist at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Saturday, February 01, 2014 2:35 PM
Subject: Re: [stylist] Transportation and help when needed

> Atty,
> Congratulations on finishing your book! For me, the editing was a much
> longer process. *grin*
> Donna
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: stylist [mailto:stylist-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Atty Rose
> Sent: Tuesday, January 28, 2014 8:55 AM
> To: Writer's Division Mailing List
> Subject: Re: [stylist] Transportation and help when needed
>
> I have both blind and sighted friends. I see the blind friends less, 
> though
> I have just started a health and fitness group in our comunity for the
> blind, so that could change.
>
> I belong to different groups that have mostly sighted folks in them.
>
> I do remember having little ones and taking the bus, first with the baby 
> in
> the front carrier, the back carrier, the stroler and the wrist connector.
> Time to put mommy on a leash. LOL
>
> As a single parent I did a lot of hauling kids around.
>
> Life is one huge adventure!
>
> By the way, I finished my book I was working on and am now in re-write. 
> Some
> of it is brilliant and some of it well, just isn't. LOL  I can fix it all!
>
> Write on,
> Atty
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Bridgit Pollpeter" <bpollpeter at hotmail.com>
> To: "'Writer's Division Mailing List'" <stylist at nfbnet.org>
> Sent: Monday, January 27, 2014 10:52 PM
> Subject: Re: [stylist] Transportation and help when needed
>
>
>>I completely relate, Lynda.
>>
>> Most the friends I had before blindness are no longer friends, and the
>> few I do, I no longer see on a regular basis. I've made very few new
>> friends, and of these new friends, most are blind too.
>>
>> It's like the minute I lost my sight, I also lost the person I was.
>> People just assume I will have nothing in common with them because
>> blindness is such a vastly different experience. I still enjoy all the
>> same things as before, many being so-called visual things, yet most
>> can't get over the blindness.
>>
>> My family has never been close, at least not like some families. Ross
>> and I are pretty independent and don't require much daily or even weekly
>> assistance. We use various tools, methods and products to do things, at
>> least when they are necessary. The biggest help I need most weeks is
>> making sure Declan's clothes are all matched and no major stains. I
>> safety pin outfits together, but every now and then items go missing.
>> This, I've found, has been the biggest obstacle as a blind parent so
>> far, grin. My family isn't always sensitive though to the times we could
>> use some sighted help. And transportation is very difficult to come by
>> in particular with them.
>>
>> As a blind person, I don't always know if people are outside unless they
>> make obvious noise. When I hear neighbors, I say high, but my husband
>> and I have been in our yard , knowing the neighbors we share a fence
>> line with are also out, and they never are the first to say high. So
>> this makes meeting neighbors difficult. Oddly enough, when Declan is
>> with us, neighbors are more likely to initiate conversation than when we
>> are alone. Funny that a 17-month-old acts as a buffer, LOL!
>>
>> I know some blind people who seem to have transportation available at a
>> moments notice from family and friends, but this just isn't the case for
>> us. In the warm months, taking the bus or walking isn't a problem, but
>> this time of year, especially with the current weather, it's not always
>> an option when I have baby. Ross takes a bus to work every day, and
>> while in school, I took a bus, but I'm not comfortable dragging Declan
>> out in the winter on a bus unless absolutely necessary. Cabs are pretty
>> reliable here, but it can be costly depending on where you go.
>>
>> I think this is an issue most blind people deal with. Those of us who
>> once could drive always lament about the loss of driving, and those who
>> never could drive, wish they had had the opportunity. Like all other
>> issue we deal with, because we are a small minority, not much is done to
>> assist the situation.
>>
>> Bridgit
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: stylist [mailto:stylist-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Lynda
>> Lambert
>> Sent: Monday, January 27, 2014 9:47 AM
>> To: Writer's Division Mailing List
>> Subject: Re: [stylist] Transportation and help when needed
>>
>>
>> Transportation   is a problem most of us face.  When my husband
>> collapsed
>> and was unconscious last week, it really hit me when I realized I could
>> not
>> even get a mile away to the hospital by myself.  Most of the time I
>> don't
>> think a lot about my sight loss, but I just keep on going doing what I
>> can
>> do but when faced with anything that requires transportation, I would be
>>
>> helpless without hubby or my granddaughter who lives near me. Without
>> them,
>> I cannot even imagine what my life would be like. There would be nowhere
>> I
>> could walk to from  where I live. Everything requires a trip in the car.
>>
>> I can understand what Bridgit has said about making friends in the
>> neighborhood - I think it would be very difficult to move into a new
>> neighborhood and get to know people when you are blind.  Most sighted
>> people
>> would just not know what to do or how to be around blind people because
>> most
>> of them have never encountered blind people in a personal setting and
>> they
>> would not know how to deal with it.  I think they see us as nearly
>> helpless,
>> foreign, and that they would have nothing in common with us and they are
>> not
>> about to change their mind regardless of anything.
>>
>> I can relate to the comments that Peter has sent.  I lost my sight 6 1/2
>>
>> years ago. Along with the sight loss are the personal losses we all have
>> (at
>> least most of us). We lose family members, people we thought of as great
>>
>> friends, jobs, and ability to get from one place to another by
>> ourselves.
>> My sight loss became an enormous chasm between me and so many people in
>> my
>> world at that time. I would never have believed it had I not lived it.
>> I
>> lost my sight, but I did not lose "me." I am still the same person I was
>>
>> then, with all the same delights and passions but instantly when we
>> become
>> blind, we are not the same to everyone else around us. And, I think, we
>> become their worst nightmare - that of being blind. We cannot be healed;
>> we
>> cannot be changed back to who we were before; and we cannot continue our
>>
>> relationship with them in the same way. So, they avoid us as much as
>> possible. But, they watch us from a distance.
>>
>> My husband is doing ok, he has to go to the drs. for follow up from the
>> testing that was done last week. He has always been the neighborhood
>> "energizer bunny." He is a total workaholic. He forgets to eat, and I
>> think
>> that is what happened to him. He had not eaten since the afternoon
>> before he
>> collapsed - and that was at 1:30 pm, when I made him stop in the
>> restaurant
>> for a late lunch that day.  He is just the kind of person who has no
>> interest in food or eating, and has to be reminded a lot that he needs
>> to
>> eat. He has always been like this - nothing new.  But at age 73 it's
>> more
>> important than ever to be eating regular meals - which he does NOT do.
>> Thanks for asking.
>>
>> Today, I am sending some quarts of my homemade soup to two neighbors. I
>> like
>> to send little surprises to them now and then, and its very cold and
>> been
>> snowing for  days - they will enjoy this delicious Tomato Vegetable
>> Soup.
>> My husband had some last night, after it was made, and he told me he
>> thinks
>> it's the most delicious soup he has ever eaten. Wow! That was nice to
>> hear.
>> I hope the neighbors like it as well. One neighbor has an autistic son
>> who
>> has to be watched constantly - Bob helps them out as much as he can with
>>
>> their driveway, or parking, and today, some hot soup. This is a very old
>>
>> village and many of the people who live here, like us, go back
>> generations,
>> to the late 1700s in this village. So, that is why we all know each
>> other.
>> The town is 2 miles from here, and even there everyone knows who
>> everyone
>> else is even if they don't know them personally. When this happened to
>> Bob
>> last week, I heard someone say, "That is the Lambert's", and I turned
>> around
>> and said, "Yes, we are the Lamberts."  The city and all the surrounding
>> areas would have only about 5,000 population. When you meet someone new
>> here, they will say, "what year did you graduate?"  It is assumed you
>> are
>> from here, and knowing when you graduated places you in perspective with
>>
>> themselves. It is very funny!  My sister says, it is clanish! lol  It's
>> very
>> typical, rural, Pennsylvania.  Any blind services I received came from 2
>>
>> hours away.  And, I know Donna lives across the state which is in the
>> mountains, and it would be pretty much the same there unless you are in
>> one
>> of the cities, and this is why I was not very happy to hear that
>> university
>> profs. would expect her to just show up to do a little presentation -
>> there's a lot more involved with it than just doing that.
>> It is so unrealistic, given the topography and the transportation
>> issues. Lynda
>>
>>
>> ----- Original Message -----
>> From: "Peter Donahue" <pdonahue2 at satx.rr.com>
>> To: "Writer's Division Mailing List" <stylist at nfbnet.org>
>> Cc: <braille at satx.rr.com>
>> Sent: Monday, January 27, 2014 8:45 AM
>> Subject: Re: [stylist] Transportation and help when needed
>>
>>
>>> Good morning everyone,
>>>
>>>    We've had the same issues here. In a city as large as San Antonio
>>> it's
>>> inexcusable that there aren't organizations that operate pools of
>>> individuals willing to assist blind and other disabled individuals
>> with
>>> such tasks as providing transportation particularly in to areas not
>> served
>>> by public transportation or serve as readers. We have snail mail here
>>> that's a year and a half old. Some of the items may be checks which
>> would
>>> come in handy right now.
>>>
>>>    I have family members living near by but asking them for assistance
>>
>>> is
>>> a kin to opening a nasty can of worms! My sister offered to take one
>> of
>>> Mary's watches in to have some links taken out of the band but
>> wouldn't
>>> commit to a time to return it to her. After an inflammatory
>> conversation
>>> she angrily drove in to town to return Mary's watch. We appreciate
>> their
>>> willingness to help when the spirit moves them but not the catfights
>> that
>>> often go along with it.
>>>
>>>    Even in situations when we've offered to pay someone to take us
>>> somewhere we've received 0 response. There are services we could apply
>> for
>>> but must do it in person. Getting transportation to these providers
>> has
>>> become a thorn in our side and we're really getting tired of it!
>> Perhaps
>>> the NFB through the Jernigan Institute and working with our local
>> chapters
>>> could establish a national network comprised of individuals willing to
>>
>>> provide services to area blind persons on a paid or a volunteer basis.
>> We
>>> learned that two agencies in Cincinnati Ohio offer such services to
>> blind
>>> persons in that community. There is an organization in San Antonio
>> that
>>> reels in big bucks but does not offer such a program. One wonders what
>>
>>> they're doing with all the money they rake in besides throwing parties
>> for
>>> their members and benefactors.
>>>
>>>    Sorry I know this is a little off topic but it's a situation all
>>> too
>>> common and one this organization should address. All the best.
>>>
>>> Peter Donahue
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> ----- Original Message -----
>>> From: "Bridgit Pollpeter" <bpollpeter at hotmail.com>
>>> To: "'Writer's Division Mailing List'" <stylist at nfbnet.org>
>>> Sent: Sunday, January 26, 2014 9:40 PM
>>> Subject: Re: [stylist] Transportation and help when needed
>>>
>>>
>>>> Lynda,
>>>>
>>>> Firstly, my condolences to you and your husband; I hope he feels
>>>> better, and you are able to get some answers.
>>>>
>>>> Unfortunately, in the city, you probably don't want to get in a car
>>>> with a stranger. Omaha is a pretty big city, with about a million
>>>> people living here, and saddly, we have a rather high crime rate, so
>>>> I'm not comfortable getting into cars with strangers. Ross and I have
>>
>>>> had people randomly stop and offer rides, but we don't take them up
>>>> on this offer. And I'm always surprised when women ask Ross because
>>>> he's a big, tall, muscular guy; not someone I would offer a ride to
>>>> if I were alone, grin. I've had people tell me they wouldn't want to
>>>> meet him in a dark alley, ha-ha! He's a big teddy bear, but he
>>>> doesn't look it.
>>>>
>>>> They didn't let you ride in the ambulance? Usually one person can
>>>> ride along. Nonetheless, that's nice you live in a community like
>>>> that.
>>>>
>>>> My husband and I are both blind, and if we didn't have public
>>>> transportation, I'm not sure what we would do. We do have family and
>>>> friends around, but they are not frequently available to provide
>>>> transportation. My parents and siblings all live here, but my son
>>>> goes days and even weeks without seeing any of them. We've lived in
>>>> our house for almost two years, and we've only met two neighbors, and
>>
>>>> they only speak to us when we initiate conversation. We've spoke with
>>
>>>> neighbors and try to be welcoming and cordial, but I don't know if
>>>> it's the blindness or what, but no one in our neighborhood seems
>>>> interested in getting to know us any better. And we are involved in
>>>> the NFB here, but again, outside of Federation activities, most of
>>>> our fellow Federationist are not people we see socially. And most our
>>
>>>> personal friends are not married and certainly don't have children.
>>>> It's difficult to find a babysitter, even in advance, so we don't
>>>> often get out unless we can bring our son.
>>>>
>>>> So my point being, we would be stuck in our house without public
>>>> transit, grin.
>>>>
>>>> Bridgit
>>>>
>>>> -----Original Message-----
>>>> From: stylist [mailto:stylist-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Lynda
>>>> Lambert
>>>> Sent: Saturday, January 25, 2014 1:07 PM
>>>> To: Writer's Division Mailing List
>>>> Subject: Re: [stylist] Transportation and help when needed
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> Pennsylvania is a very rural state overall. There are no cabs
>>>> anywhere here other than in the bigger cities, which are few and far
>>>> between.  Most towns
>>>> in PA are quite small and old - with no public transportation at all.
>>>> Even
>>>> getting the access fan can only take me to a very few places. Without
>> a
>>>> person to drive, most blind folks in PA would be sitting at home all
>>>> day,
>>>> every day.  This state is not only predominately rural, it is
>> mountanous
>>>>
>>>> with long distances between the major cities.  Thank God for my
>>>> wonderful husband who patiently takes me to where I need to be. I am
>>>> so blessed.
>>>>
>>>> On that note, I have to say on Monday when we were having lunch Bob
>>>> collapsed in the restaurant and was unconscious. He was taken by the
>>>> anbulance to the hospital - and I am so very thankful I live in a
>>>> very small community where we are known, and where people jump up and
>>
>>>> begin helping in
>>>> an emergency.  When they put him into the ambulance, I was so
>> frightened
>>>> as
>>>> I knew I had no way of even getting to the hospital.  I said to them
>> "I
>>>> am
>>>> visually impaired, and I have no way of getting to the hospital."
>>>> Immediately, a man stepped out from behind me and told me who he is -
>> as
>>>> it
>>>> turns out he is a local pastor, who sees us every morning at the gym.
>> He
>>>>
>>>> said, "Don't worry, Lynda," I am taking you to the hospital and I
>>>> will stay with you until family can come."  He did just that - but,
>>>> when things like
>>>> this happen in our life, we become so acutely aware of how different
>> our
>>>>
>>>> life would be without someone to help us.  Bob is recovering, and we
>>>> do not yet know what happened to him. He has been at the hospital and
>>
>>>> drs. office
>>>> three times this past week for tests. Things like this make me so
>>>> thankful
>>>> for living in a very small town that is so close to the residents and
>>>> that
>>>> step in quickly to assist each other in a crises.
>>>>
>>>> Lynda
>>>> ----- Original Message -----
>>>> From: "Bridgit Pollpeter" <bpollpeter at hotmail.com>
>>>> To: "'Writer's Division Mailing List'" <stylist at nfbnet.org>
>>>> Sent: Saturday, January 25, 2014 1:42 PM
>>>> Subject: Re: [stylist] Here's my attempt at being tactile to
>>>> thefolkswhowant
>>>> everything for nothing
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>> If the university is willing to pay, a cab is an option, and this
>>>>> way no person has to take a day or afternoon to drive. Just throwing
>>
>>>>> out options. A bus may be another option, though a bus certainly
>>>>> isn't the
>>>>
>>>>> most convenient option.
>>>>>
>>>>> Bridgit
>>>>>
>>>>> -----Original Message-----
>>>>> From: stylist [mailto:stylist-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Lynda
>>
>>>>> Lambert
>>>>> Sent: Saturday, January 25, 2014 7:38 AM
>>>>> To: Writer's Division Mailing List
>>>>> Subject: Re: [stylist] Here's my attempt at being tactile to the
>>>>> folkswhowant everything for nothing
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> Yes, this is very important. People just do not realize at all that
>>>>> it
>>>>
>>>>> takes something more than just getting in our car and leaving home
>>>>> so that we can be somewhere. Not only is it our time, it is someone
>>>>> else's time.
>>>> When
>>>>> I go
>>>>> to the pottery studio to work, it is an hour long dive each way.
>>>>> Then,
>>>> I
>>>>> am
>>>>> there 3-4 hours working. That is a six hour day for TWO people, plus
>>>> all
>>>>> the
>>>>> expenses involved that April listed.  Not only is it very
>>>>> inconvenient for the person who is taking us places, it is
>>>>> expensive, too.  This is our reality and one that a sighted person
>>>>> would never even think about for
>>>> a
>>>>>
>>>>> second.
>>>>> Lynda
>>>>> ----- Original Message -----
>>>>> From: "April Brown" <aprilbrownshade at gmail.com>
>>>>> To: <stylist at nfbnet.org>
>>>>> Sent: Saturday, January 25, 2014 6:53 AM
>>>>> Subject: Re: [stylist] Here's my attempt at being tactile to the
>>>>> folks whowant everything for nothing
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>> Hi Donna,
>>>>>>
>>>>>>     I think it's great.  I'd emphasize one line though.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> "I have to get someone else to drive."  Emphasize that you have to
>>>>>> pay them out of pocket for time, gas, and wear and tear on the car.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Congrats!
>>>>>>
>>>>>> April Brown
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Writing dramatic adventure novels uncovering the myths we hide
>>>>>> behind.
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>> _______________________________________________
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>>>>> te
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>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> _______________________________________________
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>>>>>
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>>>>
>>>>
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