September 5 - Alone in a Crowd

Over the past ten days or so, I have had occasion to attend several events from breakfast to luncheons to afternoon teas to evenings out. The crowds of people at these affairs have ranged in number from forty to four hundred. Actually, the total number doesn’t really seem to matter to me because once the distance is past the person who is sitting right beside me, I can’t see to recognize anyone.

I find this very frustrating. I like people and I like chatting with friends and acquaintances. When Lyle is with me he is good about making sure to point out people whom I might know and if the situation warrants, perhaps taking me over to  meet with them. Of course, he isn’t always with me and not only that, we do know different people.

My solution to my dilemma is usually to sit or stand in one place and hope that friends will approach me to say hello and this is where I want to thank the people who at this past series of crowd events have done just that. Thank you for coming to me and thank you for identifying yourself.

I’m always grateful when people say who they are when they speak with me. This is especially so when I don’t expect to see them or when there is a group of people. I’m not too bad at recognizing voices...but not always. In a crowd or a  roomful of people it’s even more difficult.

It is hard to be alone in a crowd but gratifying when I know that there are people who recognize the challenge of my poor vision.