Hi Tony,
As I said before it's the way you tell them!! Are you sure, the little man
was not Bart, getting his own back on you for deserting him?.....
Noreen M.
----- Original Message -----
From: "Tony Murray" <tony.g.murray@xxxxxx>
To: "Ireland VIP News" <irelandvipnews@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Tuesday, May 23, 2006 12:09 PM
Subject: [IrelandVIPNews] Another day in the life of...
Hey All,
I'm going to tell you yet another story, it's been so long since the last one. In fact, I'll tell you two... both are fairly harrowing.
Yesterday was a bad day for me. It seemed to be all going against me. To
start with, I had a thumping head ache as a result of copious amounts of
Weizen beer the previous night. For fans of the stuff, I found a place
doing Erdinger on tap. It's not as good as the real Weizen in Bavaria, but
it's not bad. The Gin Palace on Abbey Street.. Cracking spot.
Anyway, to make things worse it was raining. Then, I missed the bus to work
by two seconds. Then some guy befriended me at the bus stop. He wanted to
talk about how bad Dublin is, how bloody ignorant Irish people are, how shit
the weather was, how awful the traffic was, what a terrible life he had, how
late the Jasus bus was, how he hated going to work, how Mondays were all the
feckin same, and on and on and on. A generally positive up-beat sort of
bloke.
So, the bus arrived and on I got. Found a seat with no leg room whatsoever,
but decided it was marginally better than standing.
I took out the MP3 player. I was just dying to surround myself in some nice
calming music, to get away from the real world for a while. Ever hear Paco
De Lucia doing Rodrigo's guitar concerto? It's good for the mind body and
soul. The anticipation was wonderful, I was just about to enter 'the
zone'... I pushed the play button, and guess what? The battery was dead.
Just my luck.
Finally, I got in to work, only to be told that one of my system databases had become corrupt, and that all the work (including weekend work) for the past two weeks had to be redone. So, my entire day was spent reviewing error logs, which let me tell you, is not much fun.
At last, work finished for the day, and I went to catch the bus. Still
cranky, still no music to listen to, still hung over (they are lasting a lot
longer these days, and me only 26). Eventually the good old number 7
arrived, and took me back to the city Centre.
I thought to myself "Just get me home.. Just get me home now!" I set off down O'Connell street towards Henry Street. As I was arriving at the junction, the lights changed and started beeping. "Excellent!" I thought, "My first bit of good luck today." I sped up and crossed to the middle of the street, on to the island. My goal was to get to North Earl street and head for home that way.
Suddenly, my arm was grabbed as I stood there on the island waiting for the
light to change. Being a specker, this is nothing out of the ordinary, so I
prepared the friendly smile...
The pressure on my tired arm increased, and I was aware of this small person
standing there in front of me. "Hi there", I said, trying to be nice... and
hoping that my hang over breath didn't offend too much. "What you did there
was bloody dangerous!" said this little old man who was by now hanging on to
my arm with a death grip. I thought to myself at this point, "He's going to
show me across to the far side of O'Connell street and then leave me
alone... Hopefully."
So, picture the scene. 5:30 on a rainy Monday evening, standing on the
island in the middle of O'Connell street. People milling everywhere. The
following conversation took place between this little old guy and myself.
He grabbed my other arm with his other hand, and got right up close to me.
I was going to say right up in my face, but that's inaccurate. He got right
up in my chest I suppose. You see, He wasn't more than 5 feet tall.
Guy: "You could've died!"
Me: "Ah, I'm fine."
Guy: "You stupid eejit, do you know what you just did?"
Me: "Yeah, I just crossed to the island, it's really ok thanks."
Guy: "Yes! You did. You nearly got killed, you know that?"
Me: (thinking... the lights were definitely beeping, and there was a massive
crowd crossing with me) "No, the lights were ok, the green man was up ya
know?"
Guy: "I don't give a shit about any green man, a blue man, or a bloody super
man, you nearly got killed!"
Me: "hahah (very nervous laughter), I'm fine ok?"
Guy: "You know what you should've done don't you? don't you son?"
Me: "No, what?"
Guy: "Waited for someone to bring you over, do you comprehend?"
Me: "No, it's actually ok once there are those.. um, beeping lights? You
know what I mean? Audible lights.."
Guy: "Ah I don't want to hear any of that old nonsense, you should wait for
help."
Me: "Ok then, no problem... I've to be getting along now anyway (I actually
did say getting along, I've no clue why)."
Guy: "Well how are you going to cross now? Tell me that!"
At this stage, I'd missed several changes of the lights, I was soaking, and
I was really wishing I'd never got out of bed that morning.
Me: (very stupidly) "I'll wait for the lights to beep, and then... over I'll
go."
Guy: "You see, you just don't get it do you? You'll be killed, and then what
will your Mother say?"
Me: (catching on) "Well, can you assist me to the other side then?"
Guy: "Yes! I will, it will be far safer that way. Now you are getting it."
Me: "Grand job, that'll be great then."
Guy: "Right let's go!"
With that, he drags me off in to the traffic. He didn't wait for the green
man, didn't look right or left, didn't pay any heed to what was going on...
He was taking me to the other side.
Next thing I know there's a horn blaring extremely close to my left ear... Closer than any moving vehicle has ever been to me in my life.
Guy: "That's only a bus, don't worry I've got you." Me: "You lunatic, you'll get us killed." Guy: "Yes, he is a lunatic!" Me: "No I mean you!" Guy: "What the f*cking hell do you think you're doing! Are you Blind?" Me: "I am..." Guy: "Not you, I mean the bus driver." Me: "Oh... Well, do you want to get off the street or what?" Guy: "No! He should stop, I'm bringing a poor blind man across the street, he should stop."
At this point, we were still standing in front of this bus which
miraculously had stopped a couple inches from me. Traffic was still
continuing to fly by in the other lanes. I'm not afraid to admit that I was
absolutely scared out of my wits.
Then the lights turned again, the green man came up and the beeps went off.
Me: "Right, let's go."
Guy: "I'm going to have a word with that bus driver, he has no consideration
for handicapped people like yourself."
Me: "Listen, I just want to get off this street ok?"
Guy: "Right then, come on."
Over we went, finally reaching the far side of O'Connell street.
Guy: "Where are you going now?" Me: "Oh, home." Guy: "I'll take you, where do you live?"
Now, I wasn't about to give this bloke, who was clearly crazy my address...
Me: "Oh just near hear, I'm fine honest." Guy: "Is it down this way?" (meaning down North Earl Street) Me: "Yes, I've to go this way." Guy: "I'll take you, it'll be much safer for you."
Without another word we set off. We'd moved about two metres, when the next
incident occurred. I was still protesting that I was fine, when I came in
contact with one of those bollards which stop traffic coming up North Earl.
Me: "Oooof! Jesus Christ!" Guy: "Jasus, you walked in to that bleedin' pole thing!" Me: "Yes, are you not supposed to be keeping me safe?" Guy: "Where's your dog?" Me: "I don't have one, now seriously I need to go." Guy: "Pretend I'm your blind dog, I'll show you the way."
At this point it was on the tip of my tongue to tell him to go and shite. It came in to my head when he said he'd pretend to be a dog, but I didn't say it. Wish I had.
Me: "No, I've got a stick.. I'll be fine. Bye." Guy: "No, come on. I'm going this way anyway." Me: "I just want to be left alone." Guy: "I know, you must be very sad, being deaf is awful." Me: "What?" Guy: "It's absolutely terrible."
So I walked off, but he stuck with me.
Guy: "On you go, keep going straight.. You're fine, keep going."
Next thing I know, I've found myself at the feet of none other than Mr. James Joyce.
Guy: "Be careful! Be careful! You've hit that big thing there!" Me: "You said go straight! Did you not see the statue?" Guy: "You could've been killed!" Me: "Oh Christ, just go away will you!?" Guy: "No, I'll show you the way, come on."
I thought to myself, I can easily outrun this bloke. So I moved off again,
heading in to the side of the street where I usually walk. It's nice and
clear.
Guy: "That's it, head down that way there you'll be fine."
Then, I noticed a crowd of people in front of me. A Mum with her kids, a pram too I think.
Guy: "Out of his way! Hey you there, get out of that blind man's way!" Me: (to the woman) "Oh dear God... Hey it's ok, sorry about this..."
I moved out to bypass the crowd, it was easy.. It's a pedestrian street.
Finally I got to the end of North Earl where I turn left in to Marlborough Street.
Guy: "Are you ok now?"
Me: "Yes, I'm fine!"
Guy: "I've to go to catch my train."
Me: (phew!) "Ok, seeya."
Guy: "Actually, I'll walk you a bit of the way home, where is it? Left
here?"
Me: "No, it's fine. Go for your train. Bye."
Guy: "What do you mean?"
Me: "I'll be fine, I know this area very well."
Guy: "That's some thanks, after me helping you all this way."
Me: (Incredulous, but anything to avoid further confrontation) "Yes, thanks
for your help."
Guy: "What's your name?"
Me: "Joe. Yours?"
Guy: "Eddie. You narrowly avoided death today Joe."
Me: "Yes, thanks for saving me Eddie."
Guy: "Do you know why you're blind?"
Me: "Yeah, I've an eye condition."
Guy: "It's God's way, God's way of..."
Me: "Listen, I don't want to hear this shit, bye."
Guy: "It is his way of telling you..."
I walked off, leaving him there. Got home, sat down and ate the last of my
Easter Egg. Incredible that it survived so long... but if a blind man can
survive twenty six years of city living, I suppose anything is possible.
The other story took place a couple of months ago, it is far shorter.
I came out of work, and went across the road as usual to catch the bus.
Standing at the bus stop, minding my own business, a lady approached me.
Lady: "What number are you waiting for?" Me: "The 7." Lady: "I'll tell you when it comes." Me: "Ah, thanks a million, that'd be great." Lady: "You're amazing." Me: "Ah, not at all.." Lady: "But you must feel very useless do you?" Me: (shocked) "Useless? Well, no I don't to be honest." Lady: "Ah you must. I suppose you've a very empty life." Me: "What? No, I don't." Lady: "Here's a bus, I think.. I think.. Hold on, Oh yes, it's a 7." Me: "Thank goodness, bye."
I got on, glad to be away from her. Thankfully my sense of humour stopped
me being offended, I couldn't wait to tell my mates about the incident. The
thing was, I was dressed in the normal work suit, had come out the gates of
the building I work in... I obviously had something to do with my life.
Now to finish off this long, long email which has spilled over the coffee break...
I have this theory about accepting help by the public. In my opinion, if
I'm offered help, in most situations I'll accept it. If I really don't need
it, or feel like it, I'll very very politely refuse it. Even at some
audible light crossings in the city, where I know I'll be absolutely fine,
if I'm offered help I'll take it. If I am to turn it down I'll explain that
these lights are ok, and not to worry that I'll be fine... but thanks a
million for offering, you're great.
My theory goes like this. If a stranger, who has never met a blind person
before offers one help, and successfully brings them to the far side of the
street, or up steps etc... That person will leave feeling they were useful,
and what they did was positive. If you thank them, smile, and be friendly,
all the better.
If the task was easily achievable by this blind person, but they still
accepted the help that doesn't matter. Ensure the person who helped leaves
feeling positive about it all.
Say this helpful person is walking the next day, and sees another blind
person stranded on a busy traffic island, or heading straight for an
obstacle. Theoretically, remembering their positive experience they should
step in, and get the blind person out of trouble.
This person is now someone who will assist, a potential saviour for a blind
person for the rest of their lives. They will not be worried about
approaching a blind person, offering assistance, and confident enough in
themselves to know that they can successfully help. The more of these
people walking around our city, the better in my opinion.
Of course turn the situation around, and you've just created someone who will never approach, talk to, or offer to assist any blind person ever again.
If someone turns down assistance and isn't very nice about it, they've created one of these unhelpful people.
So for ever more, I will for the most part accept assistance, even if it is
to cross the street I live on and cross every day. If I turn it down for
some reason, I'll be like an air hostess... Very very nice about it!
Cheers,
Tony
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