March 2 - Contrast

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.