It’s the beginning of March and I am optimistically looking forward to the onset of spring! Even now I am aware of the black asphalt of the sidewalk being revealed against the white of the snow. I am thankful that for the most part I can see contrast and as it is with many of us who have partial sight, this contrast is very helpful.
Any ground cover which has only one colour
blurs mobility clues. For instance, it’s okay if I am just meandering across an
open field but when I want to follow a specific pathway, the broad white
expanse of snow in front of me offers no clues to the direction that pathway is
taking. Sometimes I find that the same is true with a field or park of green
grass, but usually the more well trodden paths through these areas have been
worn to brown earth and although this contrast is not as distinct as it is with
black and white, there is still a slight contrast of colour.
Snow and ice do odd things to the mobility
of many people and for those of us who use a cane of any kind, the winter
elements are not helpful. If I am not moving too quickly, my cane will detect
ice, but more often than not my foot is on the ice before I feel the cane sliding.
Snow is even more difficult. The ball at the end of my cane will frequently get
stuck in soft snow, and uncleared sidewalks are just a pain. One of my personal
difficulties is the inability to detect depth. If I happen not to be using my
cane it is not unusual for me to find myself stepping into a depression or
stumbling against a frozen mound of ice or snow.
So, I can hardly wait for March to bring on
the warmer temperatures. Melt that snow and clear that ice. Put me back on
level sidewalks edged by some green grass.
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