I was standing by the door at the university, waiting for my ride, and this lady comes up to me and says, "You're so brave." I asked her why, and she said she didn't know exactly why. I just was. So, I began to wonder whether I was brave for attending grad school, or for waiting alone for a ride.
I don't always have the patience to educate people either. I do try, but the role of constant educator gets old fast, especially if people are insensitive to start with.
ShannonAre you a fan of women's music? If so, and you're interested in hearing the latest edition of "The Eclectic Collection: A Celebration of Women In Music", feel free to send a message to:
solsticesinger25@xxxxxxxxx----- Original Message ----- From: "Lora" <loravara@xxxxxxxxxxx>
To: <bksvol-discuss@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> Sent: Friday, December 01, 2006 10:49 PM Subject: [bksvol-discuss] Re: How I read
Hi E.,I completely agree. People remark on everyday tasks I take for granted, and treat them as mysterious and marvelous. I've been complimented for walkingdown stairs, for crossing streets, even for going to get my mail.And those who ask personal questions, like, "How do you get dressed for workin the morning?" don't seem to care that they're being intrusive. They think they have the right. And sometimes I just don't know how to respond. The co-worker who complimented me for walking down two flights of stairs angered me so muchthat I wanted to turn and snap at her. But every instinct demands that I beprofessional at work. Some might say I should have educated her, but I don't always have the patience to be instructive, and sometimes I feel Ihave the right to be angry or frustrated. Of course, if we give into that,then we're somehow angry about our disability, which is the furthest thing from the truth. I just don't want it to be what defines me to others, and sometimes, no matter how I try, that seems to be all they see. On a positive note, the team I'm on treats me as an equal, for better orworse. I take my turn at overtime, with the on-call pager, everything, and they know that I can get it done. I'm assigned projects, from small thingsto large-scale efforts that everyone will see the results of, and no one questions my ability to complete my assigned duties. -----Original Message----- From: bksvol-discuss-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:bksvol-discuss-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Elizabeth and Burton Sent: Friday, December 01, 2006 9:41 PM To: bksvol-discuss@xxxxxxxxxxxxx Subject: [bksvol-discuss] Re: How I readActually that bothers me too. I am also bothered by strangers walking up to me and saying "I have never watched a blind person ((fill in the blank suchas eat a salad or do some task.) I am happy to talk about myself but this is different than having no boundaries where my being blind means I am on display for the interest of others or need to interrupt what I am doing to discuss my life with you. I am also amazed at the fact that total strangers have come up to me andasked me things about my personal life. It would never occur to me to walk up to someone and say "Do you live alone?" "Do you have children?" and such.I mean if I am having a conversation with you you might ask me that if youknew me a bit but total strangers somehow figure they have the right to askpersonal things because we are visibly disabled. E. To unsubscribe from this list send a blank Email to bksvol-discuss-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxxput the word 'unsubscribe' by itself in the subject line. To get a list ofavailable commands, put the word 'help' by itself in the subject line. To unsubscribe from this list send a blank Email to bksvol-discuss-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxxput the word 'unsubscribe' by itself in the subject line. To get a list of available commands, put the word 'help' by itself in the subject line.
To unsubscribe from this list send a blank Email to bksvol-discuss-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx put the word 'unsubscribe' by itself in the subject line. To get a list of available commands, put the word 'help' by itself in the subject line.