August 15 - Benchmarks

Lately, I have been thinking about some of the major events that have marked changes in my life. Possibly, this train of thought has been brought about by my recent stroke. The stroke caused changes in my normal speaking voice but it also has caused me to think a little differently. After many years of good health, I am now more aware of my vulnerability to illness or injury.

To a certain degree, we all have these benchmarks. There is the thought that some things were true before the event and others not so true afterwards. There is a dividing line that marks some sort of change. On a personal level, I can think of a few instances. One major happy event was our wedding. I was single and then Lyle and I became a couple. Just over a year later, our first child was born and we moved from being a couple to becoming a family. In both cases, life was different before and after.

Not all changes are by our own doing. My sight loss was certainly nothing that I chose for myself. There was definitely a line between the day I was fully sighted and the next day when I became legally blind. I know that other people experience change or benchmarks that can have decidedly more dramatic and traumatic changes than my own. We must all play with the cards we are dealt.

It was as I was contemplating all this that I recalled the series of White Cane Connections walks across Canada. This was a significant event for me. Lyle and I entered this undertaking way back in 2012. In fact, on this date in that year we were in Ottawa ready to share with a group of CNIB staff about my personal experiences with vision loss and also the experiences we had had on our walks. That was a great year for me. We met so many people with so many interesting stories to tell. Perhaps you are one of them reading this right now! I have great memories of the shared times, the shared challenges and the courage of newfound friends who were daily coping with those challenges. The White Cane Connections walk was definitely a benchmark for me. The people I met changed my life for the better.

 

 

 

 

August 4 – Dogs, Guides or Pets?

This is perhaps a strange topic for me to write about. I don’t have a guide dog and I don’t have a dog as a household pet. Recently though, I was reminded of how comforting an animal can be. It was our granddaughter’s new puppy that stirred this thought in me.

I have been told that following a stroke, it is easy to become depressed. Although I haven’t felt depressed, there have been a few times when I have been feeling a bit down. This was so on my first weekend out of hospital. What a blessing it was that we spent those few days with our daughter and family...and that included our granddaughter’s new puppy.

It was quite the comfort to cuddle that puppy – different than snuggling up to a blanket or stuffed toy. Tucker was a warm, breathing, appreciative little body. He didn’t make any demands but wagged his tail and gave a few little happy yelps when I scratched behind his ears.

As for guide dogs – well, as well as being a practical support, guide dogs can offer a similar comfort. At least that is what I have been told by several friends who own one.

Personally I don’t feel eligible for a guide dog. It is one of those times when I can say that I have a little bit too much vision. I practiced with a friend’s dog once but found myself pulling back on the harness and trying to lead the dog instead of having the dog lead me. Also, in the end, I’m not really fond of having dogs or any kind of pets inside the house. 

In the meantime, I am availing myself of every opportunity to cuddle with Lexi’s dog, Tucker. He likes to play and likes to be petted. I’m glad that the family lives close enough so that I can indulge myself this way.

There is a picture with this post. I am sitting and holding Tucker on my lap. He is a small dog, and a cross between a Shih Tzu and a Bichon Frise. He is a really cute puppy.

 

Sue with Tucker