Years ago a friend of mine and I talked about writing down all the funny/amusing/memorable things that have happened to us around town on the bus, etc from well-intentioned people trying to help us blind girls out.  While I don’t think our stories merit a book length diatribe, I thought I would add some to my blog from time to time as I think they are noteworthy. 

I’ve had a vision impairment since birth, so I have amased quite a number of instances where someone tries to help, but instead it comes across to me as ‘odd’.  For instance:  Take the guy I met on the tube in London.  He saw me with a cane carrying my groceries and started giving me this lecture about how I only need to ‘believe in God in order to restore my sight - I just need to believe!’.  Well  buddy, I DO believe in God. . .have so for 34 years now, but my vision, strangely, has not changed since birth.   Hmmm so how’s that theory workin’ for ya?   

Or take the grocery worker who, after nicely bagging my groceries for me, asks if I need help out to my car.  I have my cane in hand.  Yeah, I want you to help me into the driver’s seat!  I know that I could have arrived with the help of a driver, but I still think it’s amusing.  No I am not trying to be cynical, just trying to see the humour in it.  The poor chaps are just trying to help me out. 

I’ve always wondered about the braille ATMs around as well.  What good do the buttons on the ATMs do when you can’t see the screen?  If there’s a voice readout to them, I never know they’re there.  I can see a bit luckily, so I never have a problem really, but how would a totally blind person see the screen? 

Anyway, just some things to ponder.  God bless anyone for helping a blind person or disabled in any way. . .and I really think the person trying to help may possibly not know the BEST most effective way of helping unless they’ve had expericnce with it.  OH!  That reminds me. . .the people who help me across the street all the while telling me about their ‘cousin, niece/nephew, aunt/uncle, parent’ who is blind, etc.  Are you telling the truth, or are you trying to ‘break the ice’ in some way?  I’ve always been a bit skeptical about this.  Am I being cynical?  Perhaps.  But I’ve always for some reason had my doubts as to whether these stories are true.  I think why it strikes me is that they are telling me this. . .and why?  Not really sure.  It’s amusing to me though.