[stylist] Transportation and help when needed

Mon Jan 27 03:40:32 UTC 2014

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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