[nabs-l] New THOUGHT PROVOKER #139- Is There Redemption for a BlindChicken

Sat Nov 29 03:53:24 UTC 2008

Umm... Stop birding out! Get the darn cane! Being a lifelong total blindy, I 
have nowhere to talk as per the whole sight loss thing, but in my life I 
would not be caught dead in a grocery store without that flippen cane. It's 
my everything. It's my dog that doesn't pee or poop.

Ben
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Robert Newman" <newmanrl at cox.net>
To: "nfbnabs" <nabs-l at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Monday, November 24, 2008 20:25
Subject: [nabs-l] New THOUGHT PROVOKER #139- Is There Redemption for a 
BlindChicken

> NABS listers
> RE:  Is There Redemption for a Blind Chicken
>
> The new #139 THOUGHT PROVOKER is a page out of the adjustment history of 
> one
> woman's struggle to cope with her blindness. See where she was at. By
> sharing this incident, she hopes to help others to not get stuck where she
> once was.
>
> 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
>
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