We have just come back from a short holiday with our
daughter, son-in-law and beautiful little granddaughter. How wonderful it was
to spend that time with them all and what a great experience to be able to hold
baby Lexi each day. She is now ten months old and a perfect bundle of joy.
I was always grateful that I was able to see when our own
children were born, but I now realize that seeing doesn’t always involve twenty-twenty
vision. In my mind I have a picture of
Lexi. I can feel her little warm body when I hold her in my arms. I can feel
her soft skin and touch her delicate fingers and toes. I can brush the fine
hair on her head. I can listen to her baby babble and hear her laugh. With my
partial sight I can see when her big brown eyes are looking up at me.
There are challenges of course. I find it difficult to see
her mouth and her parents are quite happy to leave me out of the feeding
process. My friend who is blind says that the more difficult time is now when
her granddaughter is a toddler. She is unable to see her come rushing across
the room to jump into her lap. Toys on the floor are also a bit tricky.
I was prompted to write this small piece on the blog after
listening to a book by Peter White, a blind BBC broadcaster and father of four.
When White was asked if he was disappointed that he couldn’t see his children, he
expressed puzzlement at the question. After all, he had a perfect tactile
picture of each of them - seeing them as he experienced other pictures in his
life. Tony had a long angular face with small features, Robin with a flatter
face and with small plump hands like White’s own. Kathy, their daughter, had a
much smaller frame and appeared almost doll like. With white’s articulate
descriptive powers, I could almost see these children myself.
Lyle and I are now looking forward to a visit with our
grandson, and I can hardly wait. Benji is now five months old and I am eager
for this next visit. Being a grandma is indeed a special time of life.
Following are two pictures. The first is of Lyle and I
holding our granddaughter. There are some large pelicans in the background. The
second picture shows Lexi with her Dad. They are standing on the rocks at the
shore. It was a great holiday.
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| Sue, Lexi, and Lyle |
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| Lexi with her dad |
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