Hitting the Streets

     So, that’s what traveling the streets is like!   Now, I see a lot of the reasons that blind people tend to stay at home.  It’s scary, venturing out into the world set up for people who can see.  I can see that without good training, it is incredibly hard to make sense of what you are hearing and feeling when trying to travel.  So perhaps people try, but if they haven’t had the training and maybe a little motivation, it’s an easier choice to stay at home and not venture out independently.

     What surprised me today was that I picking up on all this information, but that I couldn’t do anything about it fast enough.  It’s almost like you can notice something, but before you can do anything about it, it’s too late, and you’ve stumbled on a curb or you’ve gone down a driveway.  I also noticed how hard it is to process what I was hearing.  Inside, there are not as many noises, and they aren’t as loud.  But, outside, everything seems louder and closer, and the environment isn’t closed, so you could just wander off into nothing.  Outside especially, it will be important to cast out everything and just move forward based on what the environment is giving you.

     I can also see how good cane skills are incredibly important.  It’s hard to stay in step, cover both sides, process what the cane is hitting, how you should react, and keep walking forward.  So much information!  I’m thinking this is where the practice comes in.

     I had a really hard time figuring out where the sidewalks ended and the streets began.  I got a little scared that I’d end up in the road and not know it, so I was more nervous about keeping moving.  As soon as I found a slope or change in grade, which was usually a driveway, I was so sure I was in the road.   So I froze, afraid to go further into the road.  When I think about freezing up like that, I realize that it’s really ridiculous.  First, I saw Amber go into the road several times, and she didn’t die, and I also saw Mickey shadowing everyone who was near dangerous traffic.  So, I’m not going to die, I’ve just got to convince myself that I’m safe, and I think I’ll travel more confidently, and as a result, be better.  Surprise!  I think I’m thinking too much.