[nagdu] Over There
Kristen
kskristen at gmail.com
Thu Jun 5 16:26:44 UTC 2014
I find it funny how people will say "over there" when they see we
have guide dogs.
I've had people say that it's easier to grab my arm and take me
"over there" than to give directions. My grandma is famous for
that; I sometimes asked her to guide me before I had Corvette
because she was so bad at directions. She is also losing her
memory, so that may be part of why she thinks it's still okay.
--
Kristen
----- Original Message -----
From: "Craig Heaps" <craig.heaps at comcast.net
To: "Kristen" <kskristen at gmail.com>,"NAGDU Mailing List,the
National Association of Guide Dog Users" <nagdu at nfbnet.org
Date sent: Thu, 5 Jun 2014 09:08:23 -0700
Subject: Re: [nagdu] Over There
That's terrific. I know that on BART trains most of the empty
seats are
"over there". I know because people tell me that's where they
are.
The other extreme is the person who, when I say, "Is there a seat
available
for me and my guide dog?", grabs my arm and drags me "over
there."
Craig and Chase
----- Original Message -----
From: "Kristen via nagdu" <nagdu at nfbnet.org
To: <nagdu at nfbnet.org
Sent: Thursday, June 05, 2014 8:08 AM
Subject: [nagdu] Over There
I do not know who wrote this, but I bet we have all experienced
the very
same thing. I found it on a Facebook group and thought it would
be
appropriate here:
"Over There"
As my guide dog Shadow and I stood in line at the checkout of
the River
City Market at CSUS, I asked the cashier what I considered a
simple
question. "Where are the napkins please?"
Her response was hurried, but sincere, "over there."
Emerging from the light rail for the first time, I managed to
catch the
attention of a passer-by. "Please sir, can you tell me where I
might catch
bus 63?"
A kind voice offered a pleasant response before disappearing
into the
cacophony of the early afternoon, "You can catch it, Over
there."
So many things reside over there -- napkins, bus stops,
pencils, pens,
clothing racks, department stores and even my shoes! A never
ending supply
of important and indispensable items and locales all reside in
this place
which is shrouded in mystery and intrigue. I stand in perplexed
silence
after learning that something is over there. It is a place I
have never
been and have no hope of finding on my own.
My guide dog is quite skilled in finding chairs, stairs,
elevators,
escalators, helping me cross streets, and can even find me the
Diet Pepsi
display at Food Town; however, when I tell her to find "over
there", her
little bottom hits the floor and a small whimper tells me that
she is as
confused as I.
We will not be going "over there" today. Over there has caused
me abit of
vexation, a lot of confusion and, on occasion, made my heart
race. I have
discovered that "over there" can be a dangerous place.
One day while crossing a street, I heard a driver's irritated
voice shout
out a warning of a truck bearing down on me from over there.
Shadow
artfully dodged the oncoming vehicle and pulled me to the safety
of the
curb. Our hearts were both racing as we took a few moments to
compose
ourselves.
Close encounters with over there can be frightening
experiences. Although
many blind people have wondered as to the exact location of,
"over
there,", few have dared to venture forth in an actual
exploration of the
mysterious place.
One day, while standing in line at the supermarket, I asked the
clerk
where I might find the aspirin. With a cheery smile in her
voice, she
informed me that the aspirin was located, "over there."
With a weary sigh, I decided that I would take the extra step
that would
unravel the mystery, which had vexed my compatriots since the
beginning of
time.
Taking a deep breath, and attempting to look nonchalant, I
smiled at the
clerk, "Where," I asked, "is over there?" I imagined the girl's
shocked
expression. I felt her sharing condescending and concerned looks
with her
fellows in the store. The silence grew palpable as they mulled
the
possibility of allowing a blind person access to the forbidden
land. She
had no choice; she would have to tell me how to find "over
there!"
I had won! Exhilaration swept through me as I waited in
breathless
anticipation. A victorious smile crept to my lips, my hand
tightened on
the handle of Shadow's harness, we would soon be going over
there!
The clerk's voice reeked with resignation as the decision was
made. "That
way," she said.
--
Kristen
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