This year, Lyle and I are going to Australia
for Christmas. I have family there, and so we have made the trip many times in the
past although travelling over Christmas is unusual for us. I have also made the
trip several times on my own. In this vein then, I thought that I would make
the next few posts about travel tips and travel experiences. I hope that you
will join me on my journey. Come fly with me!
Let’s start with packing! I like to pack carefully, early
on, and take only the essentials. Most times I am able to fit everything into
one suitcase even if it is one that Lyle and I share. With practice, I have
become a fairly economical packer. This works well especially when I reach my destination.
The less “stuff” I have, the easier it is to sort through.
When my suitcase is ready, I put on a distinctive luggage
strap, some stickers on the cover, a name-tag, and whatever else I think will
make my suitcase stand out from others on the carousel. This doesn’t mean that
I will be able to recognize the suitcase myself when it comes tumbling down
with the dozens of others, but it certainly makes life easier for whomever is
assisting me. Even if I can’t see the
colour of my luggage, it is important to remember the descriptive details to help
out my travel guide.
I always ask for assistance when I am travelling alone. I
remember a time early on when my sight was somewhat better than it is today. I
had decided that in the cause of independence I didn’t need help. It was a big
mistake. I did make it through security but I couldn’t find my gate. Everyone
seemed to be rushing by me so quickly that I couldn’t see them in time to stop
them and ask for help. I learned from that experience. Asking for assistance, a
service that the airlines seem happy to provide, is merely another tool that I
can use to continue to travel independently – and in case you are wondering, I
always use my white cane in an airport.
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