I think that I can safely say that trudging through thick snow isn’t easy for anyone, but it is especially difficult for people with little or no sight. I don’t have much depth perception and so find it almost impossible to tell the variations of the height or valleys in snowdrifts. It is difficult enough walking on uneven surfaces when the ground is bare but snow is randomly inconsistent in texture. My boot might sink to ankle depth in mushy softness or I might stub my toe against a hard piece of ice. It all looks the same to me and even my white cane isn’t much help in such circumstances.
The other challenge with winter snow is that the path in front of me takes on a particular sameness. Without the snow in the other seasons of the year, I can rely on the contrast of, for instance, the black asphalt of a walking path and the border of green grass. Because I do have limited sight, I can see enough to fairly easily follow this shoreline. It is also easier to detect the difference in the ground surface with my cane. After a snowfall, the path ahead is merely a white blanket with no defining edges.
So that is my “woe is me” story for the day. I will now try to put on my Pollyanna face and look for the glad stories of winter. I like going to the outdoor rink to watch our granddaughter on her skates. I’m glad that we live in an area where there are opportunities for cross country skiing. I’m glad that I have enough sight to appreciate the outdoor coloured lights of the Christmas season. I’m glad that technology enables us to have zoom visits with our family in Winnipeg and when we can coordinate time zones, even with our family in Australia. In spite of my white cane and white snow challenges, there is much for which I can be thankful.
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