Naturally, when this post appeared in my inbox from the blog ‘Vision
Through Words’, I had to take a closer look at the article by Jeff Flodin. The
title provoked deep thoughts, so deep that my thoughts could not think of anything…at
first…
In fact, I would need a week, not one day: because I would want to
fly to Paris and visit the Louvre Museum and that would take a day just to get
there, another day to stand in the
monstrous queue before the giant glass pyramid to get in (as I would
not have my magic white cane to get in for free this time!).
My eyes would want to devour all the famous painters’ works I have
heard so much about: Cézanne, Monet, Van Gough, Matisse, Picasso and the
outrageous works of Señor Dali,
just to name a few. I would visit other museums to view fashion
through the ages…to see fine porcelain…to admire lush tapestries…
I would like to ride on the FRONT of the tandem bike through the
Loire Valley, and visit an underground cave…to see glow worms and stalagmites.
I would sit in a field of wildflowers and gaze at daisies in the grass.
Then I would want to visit a zoo – and look at all the weird and
wonderful creatures of the world. I’d like to take a joy flight over the Amazon
– view waterfalls and brethtaking views. I’d walk the rocky steps unaided to
the bottom of Wineglass Bay in Tasmania and take a cruise around Milford Sound
in New Zealand’s South Island.
I’d sit in the middle row of a circus performance and the back row
of a mime movie watching Marcel Marceau – or a Mr Bean film.
I’d read an Asterix book and I’d be a photographer for one day – to
see at close range the faces of my family and friends (and see if they really are
as handsome as they tell me they are). I’d even check out their shoes and
tattoos!
I’d sit beside my grand-daughter in her Grade 1 classroom and help colour
in pictures and watch the sun set and wait for the naughty possums to come into
view.
But I’m cheating a little here – all this is well into my second
week of wishes…
I wholeheartedly share Jeff’s sentiments at the end of his story: I love
my life as it is, with all its frustrations and difficulties – because I can
experience all the above things through the vision of my imagination and with a
grateful heart! And because I am so supported by my fabulous family and kind
friends who sometimes forget I can’t see….
**
Jeff writes…Here’s what I would do if I could see again.
For one glorious summer day, I’d be a bleacher bum. And play Frisbee
at Oak Street Beach. And get impressed by Impressionists hanging around
the Art Institute. I might paint my bedroom purple.
And ride a sleek red bicycle. And watch my big, black dog romp
in the cool blue surf.
I’d venture into the unfamiliar: down to scuba dive, up in a
glider. I’d find peace in the familiar: gaze upon the face of my
beloved, catch the light in her laughing eyes and see the strength I hear in
her voice.
I like to think that I’d be grateful for one day of vision. I
don’t want to resent it as a miserly expression of someone’s sense of
fairness. I’d prefer to remain gracious.
I’d set aside time to spy on myself. Watch how I do things and
figure out how to do things better. I’ve never seen me as a blind
person. I’m really curious what it looks like to be me, how I put my
problem-solving skills to practice.
If I saw my blind self from a sighted perspective, how would I
look? Pathetic? Persistent? I live in a sighted world.
I’d like to know how other people see me. Maybe I’d understand both sides
better.
I want to think that wishing is not a waste of time, that it does
not mean that I am doing a lousy job of accepting life as it is, that I seek
only to escape. I refute the suggestion that to wish for something not
likely to occur will only make me sad or bitter or both.
And when the clock strikes midnight, let me be grateful for what I
have. Let me not resent those who have what I lack. Let me strive
to make better that which I possess. Let me find peace and bring that
peace to others.
**
Jeff Flodin’s bi-weekly blog:
Jalapenos in the Oatmeal: Digesting Vision Loss
The above story is posted on
The Guild for the Blind’s website:
www.guildfortheblind.org,
**
What would YOU do, dear reader, if you had sight for just one day?
I’d be keen to know. Please post your thoughts…
“We
all live with the objective of being happy,
our
lives are all different - and yet the same"
Anne
Frank
© Maribel
Steel 2012
No comments:
Post a Comment