June 24 - White Cane or Umbrella

The deluge of rain of this past week has reminded me of my wet weather dilemma. If I am holding my white cane down in one hand, will I be able to hold an umbrella up in the other hand? Basically, the answer to this question is no. 

It is both uncomfortable and awkward to move about when I can’t use my hands and arms for balance. I discovered this in my early days of white cane use. Pre-vision loss, I used to carry my essential items in a large purse or handbag. Some of the female readers of this blog might remember that party game often held at bridal or baby showers. Which guest can find particular items in their handbag – nail file, Kleenex, safety pin, match box, a bank card, etc.? If not the winner, I was usually close. I carried nearly everything in my very weighty purse. When I switched from driving to walking, I knew that I needed to lighten the load.

At first, I simply tried to clear out nonessential items. Some of the heavier items were keys, coins, and make-up. Even this wasn’t a great solution. Using my cane in one hand and the still heavy bag in the other was a strain. My next step was to transfer the items of the purse to a small backpack. It was easier to use my cane with the other hand free but the weight on my back was still too much. I reassessed!

When I scrutinized what I was carrying around with me each day, I found that there were really only three truly essential items  - my keys, a folded bank note, and a piece of ID. These could fit into a pocket and the backpack could go. Great! This was a fair weather solution, but didn’t solve the problem of wet weather days.

In the end, I made the only logical choice. Rather than using an umbrella, I have switched to wearing a raincoat. It’s not the best solution but it does leave me my hands free. It seems to work well enough.  My raincoat has a hood and it is long enough to cover the pocket where I keep my three essential items. The raincoat doesn’t work in every rainy day situation but it does solve the problems related to using an umbrella along with my cane.  It’s strange what adjustments a person needs to make in order to get on with the little challenges of daily life.

 Now Alberta, forget this rain and let’s see some summer sunshine!

 

June 18 - A Balancing Act

In my last post, I wrote about the balance between adventure and safety. Basically, it is a matter of personal judgment as to whether or not one should take a risk in doing something that is a bit out of one’s comfort zone. Perhaps the result will be success – or it might just be failure and impinge on one’s safety.

There are many degrees of risk taking. The other day I was at a CNIB function. Because of the number of visually challenged people in attendance there were several guides appointed to assist us. When I went to the drink counter to get some coffee, one of these obliging people poured my coffee for me. I was grateful. She also offered to carry the cup back to my seat for me. When I declined the offer, the woman commented on my independent spirit. I felt quite pleased that she had noticed this about me...that is until she added the instruction that I should be very careful not to spill and burn myself.

Carrying the hot coffee was a risk that I felt was worth taking. The coffee wasn’t all that hot and my clothes were washable. The worst that could happen was that I might bump into someone else. I knew that I was going to walk slowly back to my seat and I felt that I could take the chance.

For me, many of life’s little adventures out of my comfort zone seem to involve finding and using public washrooms. Distinguishing between men’s and women’s can be a problem. Upon entering one such washroom in a Walmart, I remember thinking to myself, that the hand wash basins were placed unusually low down. It should have been a give away that I was in the wrong spot!

Then there was the time when I was lost in the campground in Penticton, British Columbia. Half asleep, I had exited the washroom block from the second exit door and didn’t realize my error until I was completely turned around. I have made this same mistake in quite a few instances where the washroom block has entrances and exits at both ends.  

Lyle and I have both learned a few lessons from these experiences. Lyle has learned to give very explicit directions when I wander off on my own and I have learned to follow these directions to the letter. If I am to avoid embarrassment or frustration, I need to stay alert when I engage in these solo excursions.

But what about safety? Where is the cross over point between risk taking and putting one’s safety on the line? Where is the balance?

One instance comes to mind. Lyle and I were moving some furniture and I insisted that I could help with the carrying. The idea of carrying something in front of me restricted my sight to a greater degree than normal. I was carrying the back end of a table when I missed the curve and fell into a culvert. I ended up in a wheelchair for several weeks and then progressed to crutches. It was a painful reminder that my eyes don’t let me do all the things that my head tells me I would like to do.

So, a balance between risk taking and an awareness of personal safety is a fine line. Only experience will help us to judge just where the balance lies. I am still learning. 

 

June 11 - Adventures and Misadventures

A number of years ago I read a book by a man who was newly blind. Although I don’t remember the author’s name, I do recall that he wrote of his experiences in the early days of his vision loss. In particular I remember his description of negotiating the streets of London using his white cane for the first time. He wrote that he had no need to climb Everest for a sense of adventure. Indeed, crossing a busy London street was thrill enough.

Now I am not denying that climbing Everest must be the adventure of a lifetime for any mountain climber ... and yes, the ascent has been made by a few climbers with vision loss. The first was Erik Weihenmayer who reached the peak in 2001. He is now an activist and motivational speaker for a world of “no barriers.”

My world will never extend to Everest but like the author of my first paragraph, I seem to have enough adventures to keep my adrenalin flowing. Most of my adventures revolve around simple daily tasks and activities. Sometimes, crossing the street is an adventure, and then there is finding an empty seat in a crowded room, in a buffet line finding foods that suit my taste buds, avoiding bumping into dogs, children and other pedestrians on a walking trail, pretending that I am making a fashion statement when I happen to wear mismatched socks or shoes, and the list goes on.

For Lyle, the heart stopping moments often happen when I am working in the kitchen. I feel reasonably confident myself when I am slicing vegetables and I haven’t cut my fingers yet, but when Lyle is watching he tells me that he is just holding his breath waiting for impending disaster.

Yes, for someone who struggles with vision loss, adventures abound. My own challenge is to keep that sense of adventure and independence alive and with all the misadventures, maintain a regard for safety. Sometimes it’s a fine balance.

June 2 - A Successful Walk

The walk on Sunday to raise money for Dog Guides was a success. On a TV news clip that night we saw that over a million dollars had been raised across Canada. Our local chapter of the Lions Foundation of Canada exceeded their goal and took in $4,640. The money will be sent on to the national organization to support this worthy cause. As the saying goes – Every little bit helps.

Each local group and walk is usually spear headed by one or two enthusiastic volunteers. In our community, Dixie was one such person. Back in 2014, Dixie had attended a Lions conference and met other volunteers for the Oakville Dog Guide straining school. Dixie was inspired and our local annual walk to raise funds for Guide Dogs was initiated that same year.

In the picture with this post, I am standing beside Dixie and in front of us is Riley. Riley is a Golden Lab. She is a therapy dog and likes to visit people who reside in our seniors facilities. Riley hasn’t gone through the training to be certified as an official Guide Dog but she still performs a valuable service in the community.

 

Dixie, Sue, and Riley

 

Once again, if you are interested, the following web site has lots of good information.

www.dogguides.com