[blindlaw] New THOUGHT PROVOKER- Tiger or the Lady

Mon May 15 08:50:57 CDT 2006

Why doesn't Ted have the dog on the cruise?  Other than that question, this 
one's a no-brainer.  Tough to do, but if Ted has the strength he must have 
to deal with blindness and people's prejudice/ignorance as well as he seems 
to, he will have the strength to choose the dog.  If she loves him enough, 
she'll get over it.  Considering how well-kept most guide dogs are, 
allergies seem like the lesser of the problems--her PTSD about being 
attacked would be the harder one, but again, I can't think of a better type 
of dog to get over it with than a guide dog; gentle, loving, patient, hell 
Tiger would probably just ignore her if she didn't speak to him.  I've made 
the choice before, and I've always chosen the guide dog over the woman.  Can 
someone please postulate to me the type of person who would NOT choose the 
dog?  It's a one-week cruise relationship; I can't imagine he won't be all 
better in a couple of weeks or months.  And, as I say, if she loves him, 
she'll get over it.

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Robert Leslie Newman" <newmanrl at cox.net>
To: "'NFBnet Blind Law Mailing List'" <blindlaw at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Sunday, May 14, 2006 3:03 PM
Subject: [blindlaw] New THOUGHT PROVOKER- Tiger or the Lady

> BlindLaw listers
> RE:  Tiger or the Lady
>
> The new THOUGHT PROVOKER has a blind dog guide user facing a major life
> dilemma.  (Have you ever read the short story, The Lady or the Tiger?  I
> always wanted to craft a TP that would some what parallel that tale.)  If
> you have not read the PROVOKER, it follows.  Recall that I collect 
> responses
> and post them upon my web site for all the WWW to read and learn from and
> that URL is- Http://thoughtprovoker.info  If you wish to receive THOUGHT
> PROVOKERS sent directly to you, just write me and ask, at- 
> newmanrl at cox.net
>
> THOUGHT PROVOKER 106
> Tiger or the Lady
>
> "Hi, looking for a seat?"
>
> Drink in hand, Ted had just emerged from the cruse ship's observation deck
> lounge, his cane tapped the metal of what he took to be a deck chair and 
> the
> woman who had spoken was sitting in it.
>
> "There's  one right over here." the woman patted the chair next to her.
> "This is my first cruse and I'm just bursting to talk about it."
>
> "I went last year.  And thank you for the chair."  Ted said, maneuvering
> around to the other side of the woman.  "Oh, my name is Ted, and yours?" 
> He
> said setting down his drink, reaching out a hand toward her.
>
> "Cynthia."  She said taking his hand.
>
> ("Humm, an elegant warm hand to go with the pleasant voice," thought Ted.)
> "So Cynthia, before I get comfortable, being blind I can't tell this, but 
> do
> you have a refreshment?  Do you need one?"
>
> "Yes.No.I mean I don't have one, and yes, I would love one."  She said
> starting to rise.
>
> "No." Ted said motioning with his hand for her to stay seated, "I'll 
> treat.
> And what would be your pleasure?"
>
> "Well, thanks!"  Giving him her choice, she sat back down.
>
> "Cynthia?" Ted said, making sure she was where he thought she'd be.  "Here
> you are and I asked for an extra olive."
>
> "Yes, it's me.  I love olives.  Thank you."  She said, taking it from him.
>
> "So Miss Cynthia, tell me about your cruse."  Ted opened the conversation
> and the two of them talked and talked, she telling him of her first
> impressions of the port and then the ship and now the sailing.  He told 
> her
> of his first cruse, the islands visited, the food, the people, and why he
> came again.
>
> "Oh, look at the time!"  Cynthia exclaimed.  "Dinner is in ten minutes!
> I've got to change!"
>
> "WOW!  Can you believe that!  Time flies when you are getting to know a 
> new
> friend.  It's great.  How about dinner, you and me sitting together?"
>
> "I'd love it, Ted."  Both rising, Cynthia said, "Something tells me I 
> don't
> need to ask you if you need help getting back to your cabin, right?"
>
> "Right.  And on that note, I appreciate how you have handled my blindness.
> And trust me, Cynthia, if and when I need assistance, I'll ask.  I feel 
> it's
> been cool how we both have been able to be so free in our exchange and as 
> we
> go into this friendship let us try very hard to keep that openness and
> honesty.  And that does mean you may ask anything about my blindness that
> you wish."
>
> "Thank you, Ted.  You are the first blind person I've ever really gotten 
> to
> know and I'm sure there will be much for me to learn."
>
> That evening was a wonderful one for the two of them.  And over the
> remaining seven days of the cruse, Ted and Cynthia spend nearly every 
> minute
> in one another's company as their relationship grew.  Then came the last
> moonlit night on deck as Ted and Cynthia walked hand in hand under the
> stars.
>
> "I am so happy I came on this cruse and had the chance to meet you, Ted."
> Said Cynthia.
>
> "Cynthia.." Ted began, squeezing her hand, "This is an answer to a dream.
> And I'm so happy we plan to continue it. It's like."
>
> "Like meeting your soul mate?"  Cynthia volunteered.
>
> "Yeah, like that.  And when you come visit.Oh, my heavens!  No one will
> believe this, but I forgot to tell you about Tiger!  You'll love him."
>
> "Tiger? Who's that?"
>
> "My dog guide--my golden retriever, my canine friend, my constant 
> companion.
> I do well with a cane, but usually I go everywhere with Tiger."
>
> "Oh."
>
> "Cynthia, what's up, you've gotten so quiet?"
>
> "Nothing Ted."
>
> Ted stopped, pulling Cynthia around to face him.  "Come on now, remember 
> our
> vow to always tell what we think and feel.  I detect sadness, so it can't 
> be
> nothing."
>
> "I didn't know about your dog.  You sound like you love him so."
>
> Reaching out, touching her arm, Ted said, "Oh, I do, we've been together 
> for
> six years."
>
> "Ted, I know that you love me, the last week has shown me that.Ted, I 
> can't
> be around dogs."
>
> "Are you allergic to them?"
>
> "Yes, that is part of it.  I.when I was eight years old I was attacked by 
> a
> large dog and, well, I've gone through therapy for it, but.it's still
> there."
>
> Ted walked on holding Cynthia's hand, knowing the hard choice he now 
> faced.
> It was going to be either Tiger or the Lady.
>
>
> Robert Leslie Newman
> Email- newmanrl at cox.net
> Web Site- http://thoughtprovoker.info
>
>
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