December 28 - Making A List

Arriving home in Canada with just over two weeks until Christmas has proved to be an exceptionally busy time. There were so many jobs to take care of before the holiday season – cards and letters to write, gifts to buy and of course, getting the house ready with groceries in the fridge and clean sheets on the beds. I tend to make lists of all these jobs – well, isn’t that what Christmas is all about –making a list and checking it twice? Still, when one doesn’t see the printed word on a page, this making of a list does present some challenges. Usually, I will record my lists on a file on my computer. I can then hear what I have written with my audible program – JAWS. This works well when I am sitting at my desk. It doesn’t work quite as well when I need to take my list elsewhere, for instance to the grocery store. I am fortunate in that I have Lyle to read a print out of what we need and to help me search for grocery items in the store. I know of other people who are blind and who take an audio list of the items they need. Yes, with today’s technology there are ways to get around list making and memory reminders. For that I am grateful, in spite of at times feeling frustrated at the tedium of the process. As this year draws to a close I am also aware that some of my computer programs are another year older. I know that I am working with outdated equipment, but to upgrade costs money.   Nevertheless, this will be one of my goals for 2015 so I will start saving my pennies – well maybe loonies and toonies would be a better bet. Do you have goals for the coming year? It is almost time to make those famous New Year’s resolutions. As I have just written, I am a list person, so no doubt I will write down a few. With 2015 only three days away, I want to take this opportunity to wish you all the very best for the New Year. May it be one of good health and happy times.