Well, just because your eyes don't work, didn't you know that your brain, 
your mouth, your mind, and your feet do not work?
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "MV" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Saturday, February 10, 2007 9:40 PM
Subject: Re: A New Twist on Handling Sightlings; Greg Brayton Sent This


> That's  probably why she asked me. That is pretty acceptable, it just took 
> me by surprise for some reason. I don't take to well to folks asking my 
> wife "What does he want  to drink?" lol. They usually get the answer... 
> "Ask him, he's sitting right there" lol.
>
> Brad
> At 08:22 PM 2/10/2007, you wrote:
>
>>Although I have them cut my meat fr me and bring it out for me.  Not that 
>>I can't, but it's cumbersome to me at times to have to cut it in public.
>>----- Original Message ----- From: "MV" <[log in to unmask]>
>>To: <[log in to unmask]>
>>Sent: Saturday, February 10, 2007 9:16 PM
>>Subject: Re: A New Twist on Handling Sightlings; Greg Brayton Sent This
>>
>>
>>>I use to have a worship/music leader who was very cool about my 
>>>blindness,
>>>and just treated me like anyone else and I think found it odd others
>>>sometimes didn't. contrary to that, I use to have a fellow worship team
>>>member sort of act a little higher than I, we were both guitar
>>>pickers/singers, although he led services at this church sometimes and I
>>>"only" did special music hahaha. He'd always say stuff like "Hi Brad! 
>>>This
>>>is Reese talking!" Ummm yah Hi Reese, was my usual reply.One day I was
>>>sitting waiting for service to start and I must have been less patient 
>>>and
>>>he said something to me and forgot to do his trumpeting identification
>>>announcement.  I acknowledged him by name and whatever else was needed to
>>>answer him. He said "Wow!" Hahaha, you're pretty good with voices aren't
>>>you?" I said... "Yeah. Well, pretty much, although I have trouble doing
>>>John Wayne sometimes!" He didn't say a word, but my music director was
>>>walking by about the time I smarted off and he got a big chuckle out of
>>>that. For the most part, I do understand folks. We get pelted at times 
>>>with
>>>this stuff and it is mostly from different people so I try to exercise
>>>patience. but when it is from the same people and you've proven you are 
>>>not
>>>an idiot, I will tend to turn on the lessons *smile*. I had a waitress 
>>>ask
>>>if I wanted my meat cut up for me one day. I looked a bit dumbfounded but
>>>she must have gotten that from someone asking I don't know if she'd 
>>>thought
>>>of that on her own.
>>>Mime-Version: 1.0
>>>Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii; format=flowed; 
>>>x-avg-checked=avg-ok-2DF85321
>>>
>>>Brad
>>>
>>>
>>>At 07:39 PM 2/10/2007, you wrote:
>>>
>>>>Agreed John.  However, it's kind of fun to look at and osme of them are
>>>>not bad.
>>>>----- Original Message ----- From: "John Schwery" <[log in to unmask]>
>>>>To: <[log in to unmask]>
>>>>Sent: Thursday, February 08, 2007 12:46 PM
>>>>Subject: Re: A New Twist on Handling Sightlings; Greg Brayton Sent This
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>>Although I understand the humor and frustrations, I don't agree wit the
>>>>>approach.  Our speech should always be with grace, seasoned with salt.
>>>>>
>>>>>earlier, JULIE MELTON, wrote:
>>>>>
>>>>>>Lyn,
>>>>>>
>>>>>>Hahahahahahahahah! I love it!  WHen dealing with sighted folks, a 
>>>>>>little
>>>>>>humor often helps.
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>JulieMelton
>>>>>>visit me at
>>>>>>www.heart-and-music.com
>>>>>>or subscribe to my podcast at
>>>>>>http://feed.feedburner.com/hmradio
>>>>>>Keep smiling!
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>>From: Lyn Latham <[log in to unmask]>
>>>>>>>Reply-To: The Electronic Church <[log in to unmask]>
>>>>>>>To: [log in to unmask]
>>>>>>>Subject: A New Twist on Handling Sightlings; Greg Brayton Sent This
>>>>>>>Date: Thu, 8 Feb 2007 11:06:18 -0500
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>Hey, I wanted to share this with all of you.  It's fantastic.  If
>>>>>>>anyone knows either Greg Braton or Duncan Holmes, you can see this
>>>>>>>being something they would know about.  Have fun.
>>>>>>>----- Original Message -----
>>>>>>>From: Duncan Holmes
>>>>>>>To: gil tolan
>>>>>>>Sent: Thursday, February 08, 2007 9:13 AM
>>>>>>>Subject: A New Twist on Handling Sightlings; Greg Brayton Sent This
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>I really like this.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> > I'm blind, but there's no need to talk to my dog
>>>>>>> >
>>>>>>> > By IAN HAMILTON
>>>>>>> > The Herald, Scotland (UK), February 06, 2007
>>>>>>> >
>>>>>>> > I'm utterly exhausted with people constantly asking how I became >
>>>>>>>blind.
>>>>>>> > Considering that I'm 42, and blind since birth, it could be
>>>>>>>imagined > that
>>>>>>> > by
>>>>>>> > now I would be familiar with this question.
>>>>>>> >
>>>>>>> > On the contrary, if anything I'm getting more impatient with the
>>>>>>>same > old
>>>>>>> > questions day after day. "Have you been blind all your life?" To
>>>>>>>this > I
>>>>>>> > always respond: "Not yet".
>>>>>>> >
>>>>>>> > "Your hearing must be so much better than mine?" Answer: "Pardon?" 
>>>>>>> >  >
>>>>>>>"That's
>>>>>>> > a
>>>>>>> > lovely Labrador you have there." Answer: "Labrador? My dog is a >
>>>>>>>Shepherd."
>>>>>>> >
>>>>>>> > Not original answers, but they always make me and Moss, my black >
>>>>>>>Labrador,
>>>>>>> > chuckle.
>>>>>>> >
>>>>>>> > It always happens when I'm trapped and unable to escape. When I'm
>>>>>>> on > a
>>>>>>> > bus,
>>>>>>> > train or taxi. People are naturally curious; I understand this.
>>>>>>>But > they
>>>>>>> > can't resist going that little bit too far if you show any
>>>>>>> glimpse > of
>>>>>>> > being
>>>>>>> > generous with your responses.
>>>>>>> >
>>>>>>> > "Couldn't you get an operation to get your sight back?" Answer:
>>>>>>> "No! > I
>>>>>>> > like
>>>>>>> > walking into bus stops."
>>>>>>> >
>>>>>>> > "My auntie was blind. She had to stay in bed. You're so brave
>>>>>>>going > out
>>>>>>> > and
>>>>>>> > about." Staying in bed. Umm, now there's an idea. That was one 
>>>>>>> > smart
>>>>>>> > auntie.
>>>>>>> >
>>>>>>> > "How do you find your mouth when you eat?" Answer: "In the same
>>>>>>>way > you
>>>>>>> > find
>>>>>>> > your bum when you wipe it."
>>>>>>> >
>>>>>>> > "If I was blind I would have to kill myself." Answer: "Why wait?"
>>>>>>> >
>>>>>>> > These normal questions are the reason I've come up with a
>>>>>>>fantastic > plan.
>>>>>>> > For years, various organisations have been providing Blind 
>>>>>>> > Awareness
>>>>>>> > Workshops. In fact, I've had to deliver a few. These workshops
>>>>>>>show > the
>>>>>>> > public how they should respond if they encounter a blind person. >
>>>>>>>Topics
>>>>>>> > such
>>>>>>> > as, don't go up and shout at blind people, they are not deaf.
>>>>>>> >
>>>>>>> > ASK, if they want to cross the road? DON'T drag them across the
>>>>>>>road > by
>>>>>>> > the
>>>>>>> > ears. When you are giving directions, DON'T waggle your finger
>>>>>>> in > some
>>>>>>> > vague
>>>>>>> > direction and say: "It's just over there next to the post office.
>>>>>>>SEE, > you
>>>>>>> > can't miss it." Wanna bet?
>>>>>>> >
>>>>>>> > Many years ago I was waiting for a bus in Union Street in Glasgow, 
>>>>>>> >  >
>>>>>>>when
>>>>>>> > two
>>>>>>> > little old ladies decided to lift me, from behind, on to the
>>>>>>> bus. > They
>>>>>>> > proceeded to push, heave and shove me. Now, I know I'm not known
>>>>>>>for > my
>>>>>>> > speed, but I was heading in the right direction of the door under
>>>>>>>my > own
>>>>>>> > propulsion. You won't be surprised to hear that they failed >
>>>>>>> miserably.
>>>>>>> > After
>>>>>>> > all, I'm 13 stone and 6ft. To get me safely aboard they caused >
>>>>>>> mayhem:
>>>>>>> > pushing mothers and toddlers aside to get to their prey. The
>>>>>>>driver > had to
>>>>>>> > leave his cab to untangle buggies, shopping and various limbs and 
>>>>>>> >  >
>>>>>>>walking
>>>>>>> > sticks.
>>>>>>> >
>>>>>>> > I wonder if the ladies survived that day. I know I'm scared.
>>>>>>> >
>>>>>>> > I've decided to call my new training course The Blind Person's
>>>>>>>Guide > to
>>>>>>> > the
>>>>>>> > General Public. Topics such as dealing with people who are giving
>>>>>>> > directions
>>>>>>> > to my dog while ignoring me. This did happen in Glasgow's Central 
>>>>>>> >  >
>>>>>>>Station
>>>>>>> > by
>>>>>>> > a member of the railway police. I couldn't believe it. Was he
>>>>>>> having > a
>>>>>>> > laugh? No, he really was under the misapprehension that my dog
>>>>>>>knew > what
>>>>>>> > he
>>>>>>> > was on about. Not once did he refer to me at all. Bizarre 
>>>>>>> > behaviour!
>>>>>>> >
>>>>>>> > My course will teach blind people how to cope when faced with this 
>>>>>>> >  >
>>>>>>>kind of
>>>>>>> > attitude. When people come up and say: "You are a lovely boy" - 
>>>>>>> > when
>>>>>>> > talking
>>>>>>> > to the dog. Say, "Thank you very much but I'm spoken for."
>>>>>>> >
>>>>>>> > Another tip is always to have a pair of headphones in your pocket.
>>>>>>>It > is
>>>>>>> > awful to be trapped on a train with someone going through all
>>>>>>>their > fears
>>>>>>> > and traumas about being blind. Just say that you are going to
>>>>>>>listen > to an
>>>>>>> > audio book. Pop on the headphones and put the jack in your pocket. 
>>>>>>> >  >
>>>>>>>They'll
>>>>>>> > never know the difference.
>>>>>>> >
>>>>>>> > When you get caught by someone asking silly questions, the answer
>>>>>>>is > to
>>>>>>> > turn
>>>>>>> > the conversation round at the first opportunity. The one main >
>>>>>>>conversation
>>>>>>> > that everyone likes to talk about is themselves.
>>>>>>> >
>>>>>>> > Now this doesn't just apply to us blindies - the technique can be
>>>>>>>used > by
>>>>>>> > everyone. Let me give you an example. I was travelling on the >
>>>>>>> Glasgow
>>>>>>> > Underground. Sitting opposite was a woman who decided to
>>>>>>>interrogate > me
>>>>>>> > about my then German Shepherd guide dog. "What's its name?" The >
>>>>>>>following
>>>>>>> > questions took that kind of line. Then she started to get a little 
>>>>>>> >  >
>>>>>>>more
>>>>>>> > probing. "So how did you lose your sight?"
>>>>>>> >
>>>>>>> > Now in the correct circumstance that is a perfectly reasonable >
>>>>>>>question.
>>>>>>> > However, not on the underground when surrounded by ear-wigging >
>>>>>>>passengers.
>>>>>>> > I
>>>>>>> > had a number of options. One is telling her to mind her own
>>>>>>>business > (or
>>>>>>> > words to that effect). I took a different tack. This was the first 
>>>>>>> >  >
>>>>>>>time I
>>>>>>> > had put the technique into action.
>>>>>>> >
>>>>>>> > It worked a treat.
>>>>>>> >
>>>>>>> > I ignored her question. Then I asked her some questions of my own, 
>>>>>>> >  >
>>>>>>>such
>>>>>>> > as,
>>>>>>> > "Where are you off to today?". By the time she got off three stops 
>>>>>>> >  >
>>>>>>>later,
>>>>>>> > I
>>>>>>> > knew that she had just broken up with her boyfriend, she was
>>>>>>>looking > for a
>>>>>>> > flat and was thinking of moving south again! But she left the tube 
>>>>>>> >  >
>>>>>>>feeling
>>>>>>> > happy. I hadn't been rude, and the only thing she found out about
>>>>>>>me > was
>>>>>>> > the
>>>>>>> > name and age of my dog.
>>>>>>> >
>>>>>>> > A good result, I would say. I'm not a reporter for nothing.
>>>>>>> >
>>>>>>> > Ian Hamilton reports on disability issues for BBC Scotland.
>>>>>>> >
>>>>>>> >
>>>>>>> >
>>>>>>>http://www.theherald.co.uk/features/features/display.var.1173810.0.0.php
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>No virus found in this incoming message.
>>>>>>>Checked by AVG Free Edition.
>>>>>>>Version: 7.1.411 / Virus Database: 268.17.19/663 - Release Date: 
>>>>>>>2/1/2007
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>--
>>>>>>No virus found in this incoming message.
>>>>>>Checked by AVG Free Edition.
>>>>>>Version: 7.5.432 / Virus Database: 268.17.30/674 - Release Date:
>>>>>>2/7/2007 3:33 PM
>>>>>
>>>>>John
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>--
>>>>>No virus found in this outgoing message.
>>>>>Checked by AVG Free Edition.
>>>>>Version: 7.5.432 / Virus Database: 268.17.30/674 - Release Date: 
>>>>>2/7/2007
>>>>>3:33 PM
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>--
>>>>>No virus found in this incoming message.
>>>>>Checked by AVG Free Edition.
>>>>>Version: 7.1.411 / Virus Database: 268.17.19/663 - Release Date: 
>>>>>2/1/2007
>>>
>>>
>>>--
>>>No virus found in this incoming message.
>>>Checked by AVG Free Edition.
>>>Version: 7.1.411 / Virus Database: 268.17.33/678 - Release Date: 2/9/2007
>>>
>
>
> -- 
> No virus found in this incoming message.
> Checked by AVG Free Edition.
> Version: 7.1.411 / Virus Database: 268.17.33/678 - Release Date: 2/9/2007
>