Many years ago, while attending an NFB meeting, I was told by one of the patrons that I was considered in the blind world what was called "a partial." This basically means that I don't have enough eyesight to drive or function fully as a sighted person, but yet I have too much eyesight to be considered fully blind. Again, I see peripherally, which means to the sides and up and down rather than the use of the central vision, which is where all your acuity lies. This is why in many situations, I have learned to use a cane whether I need it or not. It answers a lot of questions, especially in places like airports. Several times, while travelling to art shows, I have been looking for a specific concourse and could not find it. One particular time, I asked a lady behind a customer service counter. She sheepishly looked over her right shoulder and pointed to the huge "D" marking the concourse, as if to say "duh, there it is..." Instead of responding like "oh, sorry I didn't see it, I slowly raised my cane and she went "oh." It's situations like that that keeps life amusing and very interesting at times.
Another thing many people don't realize is that when you are visually impaired and travelling through an airport, they put you in a wheelchair. At first I was taken aback at this, as I am quite capable of walking, but again, the wheelchair actually speeds up the process of getting from one end of the airport to the other. It's like getting the rock star treatment, or in my case, aging rock star! My escape from the headaches of these situations is working on my art. There, there are no rules, no limitations, and no restraints that hold me back creatively. If I start a painting, and it doesn't quite work out, oils are very forgiving. I can wipe it clean and try it again. I've done this many times, and I call it "mushing." Its' amazing how out "in the real world" not having good eyesight causes many different problems. The escape to my studio alleviates all of that.
"A Floral Frenzy"
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