Jim

You may not be familiar the UK pantomime.


"its behind you"

"oh not its not!!!!"



ATB

David W Wood 

-----Original Message-----
From: For blind ham radio operators [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
On Behalf Of Jim Gammon
Sent: Saturday, June 01, 2013 10:35 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Giving directions

Hey, it's not over there, it's behind you! Smile! Jim WA6EKS

 ----- Original Message -----
From: Aimee Lewis <[log in to unmask]
To: [log in to unmask]
Date sent: Sat, 1 Jun 2013 17:21:29 -0400
Subject: Re: sighted wife

Ah yes, over there.  The two most dreaded words in the English 
language,
that is if you're blind.  They say you pick your battles, well, 
that's one I
pick and often.  I feel like I should know where over there is 
just as much
as the next person.  I let people know that over there means 
absolutely
nothing to me.  At this point, I've usually made the person's day 
by giving
them their moment of embarrassment, and an opportunity to 
actually get some
of that gray matter stirring up there in their heads.  Anyway, I 
often
remind people that "over" and "there" are four letter words.  
Okay, "there"
is a five letter word, but one of the letters is used twice.  
LOL!  Anyway,
that's my pocket change worth on the subject.  Everybody take 
care, and hope
you're having a wonderful weekend.

73
Aimee Lewis
KK4JHF
"Be well, do good work and keep in touch." (Garrison Keillor)
P.S.  Cathy Ann's description of "over there" being a place 
shrouded in
mystery also reminds me of another place shrouded in mystery, not 
so much to
blind people, but for anyone whose not from the country.  That 
expression
being over or in "yonder."  I have a funny story about trying to 
find yonder
as if it were a room in a house when I was about 4 years old.  I 
think this
would have happened to me even if I weren't blind, just simply 
because I
wasn't used to that expression.  If anyone's interested, I'll 
tell the story
some other time.  I won't take up any more time or space with 
that here.

-----Original Message-----
From: For blind ham radio operators 
[mailto:[log in to unmask]]
On Behalf Of Steve
Sent: Saturday, June 01, 2013 11:45 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: sighted wife

John's comment about his wife telling him it was over there 
caused me to
revive this article written by CathyAnne Murtha.
Steve, K8SP

As my guide dog and I stood in line at the checkout of the River 
City Market
at CSUS, I asked the cashier what I considered a simple question.
"Where are the napkins please?" her response was hurried, but 
sincere, "over
there."

Emerging from the light rail for the first time, I managed to 
catch the
attention of a passer-by, "please sir, can you tell me where I 
might catch
bus 63?"
A kind voice offered a pleasant response before disappearing into 
to the
cacophony of the early afternoon, 'you can catch it.  'Over 
there.'"

So many things reside over there - napkins, bus stops, pencils, 
pens,
clothing racks, department stores and even my shoes! A never 
ending supply
of important and indispensable items and locales all reside in 
this place
which is shrouded in mystery and intrigue.

I stand in perplexed silence after learning that something is 
over there.  It
is a place I have never been and have no hope of finding on my 
own.  My guide
dog is quite skilled in finding chairs, stairs, elevators, 
escalators,
helping me cross streets, and can even find me the Diet Pepsi 
display at
Food Town; however, when I tell her to find "over there" her 
little bottom
hits the floor and a small whimper tells me that she is as 
confused as I.  We
will not be going "over there" today.  Over there has caused me a 
bit of
vexation, a lot of confusion, and, on occasion, made my heart 
race.

I have discovered that "over there" can be a dangerous place.  
One day, While
crossing a street, I heard a driver's irritated voice shout out a 
warning of
a truck bearing down on me from over there.  Shadow artfully 
dodged the
oncoming vehicle and pulled me to the safety of the curb.  Our 
hearts were
both racing as we took a few moments to compose ourselves.  Close 
encounters
with over there can be frightening experiences.

Although many blind people have wondered as to the exact location 
of "over
there," few have dared to venture forth in an actual exploration 
of the
mysterious place.

One day, while standing in line at the supermarket, I asked the 
clerk where
I might find the aspirin.  With a cheery smile in her voice, she 
informed me
that the aspirin was located "over there." With a weary sigh, I 
decided that
I would take the extra step that would unravel the mystery, which 
had vexed
my compatriots since the beginning of time.

Taking a deep breath, and attempting to look nonchalant, I smiled 
at the
clerk, "Where," I asked, "is over there?" I imagined the girl's 
shocked
expression.  I felt her sharing condescending and concerned looks 
with her
fellows in the store.  The silence grew palpable as they mulled 
the
possibility of allowing a blind person access to the forbidden 
land.  She had
no choice; she would have to tell me how to find "over there!" I 
had won!
Exhilaration swept through me as I waited in breathless 
anticipation.  A
victorious smile crept to my lips, my hand tightened on the 
handle of
Shadow's harness, we would soon be going over there! The clerk's 
voice
reeked with resignation as the decision was made.  "That way." 
She said.

By: Cathy Anne Murtha