[Blindtlk] Christmas questions

[Mike Freeman]

Chasity:

Seems to me you've gotten into the mulled wine a bit early in the season!

Of *course* I enjoy being around others when they open their gifts. It isn't 
the seeing of the action that counts; it's the joy of giving and the 
witnessing of the cries of delight and the listening to the usual "How did 
you know what I really wanted?" that count. How is this sentiment over not 
seeing at Christmas any different than the drippiness of people who bemoan 
the fact that we, the blind, can't see the faces of our children? I see no 
difference. Hence, I consider the question to be largely irrelevant. Yes, 
when I could see more, I enjoyed the Christmas lights, the lighted store 
windows, the decorated tree etcetera. But that was only part of Christmas. 
There was also the mystery of what presents one was to get, the good cheer 
of the holiday season, the Christmas music, and, yes, even seeing one's 
relatives again (even those one would just as soon not see any other time of 
the year!). And for those who are religious, the meaning of Christmas for 
them is self-evident. And I always put up a tree for my girl who is 
totally-blind.

Do I put up a tree now? No. I live alone and see little point in going thru 
the fuss and bother for myself; for me, Christmas is primarily for the kids 
anyway. But I *think* I'd feel the same way were I sighted. My differing 
attitude now is because I'm older and because I'm a curmudgeon; it's not 
because I don't see very much anymore. I still play Christmas music on the 
stereo during the holiday season.

May you have a Merry Christmas and a prosperous and joyous 2007!

Now pass the wassail bowl, please!

Mike Freeman

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Chasity Jackson" <chasity0713 at charter.net>
To: <blindtlk at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Saturday, November 25, 2006 6:58 AM
Subject: [Blindtlk] Christmas questions


Hi everyone,

Recently, some discussions I have had with blind friends have brought up 
some interesting points and opinions, and I am curious about some things.

Many of you may know Tom Anderson from the CCB. I talk to Tom and Linda 
quite frequently. The other night, before Thanksgiving, we were talking 
about different things we do at Thanksgiving and Christmas. I asked if they 
usually put up a tree. And they said no because they are usually in 
Minnesota with his family at Christmas or in Kansas with hers. Then Tom made 
the point that, "Even if we were home, I don't think we would put up a 
tree." I was just curious and asked, "Do you think it's because you both are 
totally blind and can't see the lights and decorations," and Linda said yes. 
I never really thought that, and I guess it just came to mind right there 
when she mentioned that. So I asked a couple more blind friends and they 
don't put up trees and decorations either for the same reason. I'm not 
saying this is right or wrong. I just think it's an interesting discussion. 
Then, another friend of mine who is blind asked what I usually do for 
Christmas. So we got to talking and I asked her the same thing. She and her 
husband are both totally blind and they go all out with decorations and the 
tree, lights and such, but they have two kids and now have grandchildren. So 
that just made me curious about everyone's Christmas situation. Are you 
partially blind or totally blind, and do you go all out for Christmas or 
not? Does anything such as having children or grandchildren have a factor on 
what you do? For instance, maybe you probably wouldn't put a tree up for 
yourself because you can't see it, but you do because you have sighted kids, 
grandkids or family that come over.

Chris and I put up a tree each year. This will be our first year putting up 
a big tree because we now have the space for it. Before, we had little 
apartments and used a short fiberoptic tree we put on our table. Now, I 
really want to go all out and get a six and a half foot artificial pre-lit 
tree from Walmart.

I have to admit that this is the time of year when I am greatful to have 
what sight I do have. Any of you who know me know I have no problems with my 
blindness and that it doesn't hinder my independence or stop me from 
traveling or doing whatever I decide to do. But I just have to say I am 
really glad to have the sight I do have to be able to enjoy the holidays, 
see the Christmas lights on the tree, see the lights on peoples' houses when 
we drive down the road, see the first snowfall of each winter, the houses 
and cars covered in snow, see the snowey Christmas scenes in Frosty the 
Snowman and Rudolph and all the other holiday movies, etc. I have to get two 
inches from the TV to do that, but I can still see a lot of what's going on 
if I get close enough. I have to admit, although the DVS version of Rudolph 
describes everything very well, it still doesn't beat being able to see it 
visually. Chris' parents go all out and their house looks like a Christmas 
scene at the holidays. This year is the first time we will spend Christmas 
with his family. I am really looking forward to seeing the lights and 
decorations. I have to say that if I lost my sight tomorrow, I wouldn't 
worry about anything related to my independence like traveling, cleaning, 
cooking, managing things around the house and every day things, because I 
know how to do those things without my sight anyway. I don't have enough 
sight to see cars when I walk down the road. So I've obviously learned 
alternative techniques for every day things like that. The thing I would be 
most upset about is not being able to see seasonal things like this at 
Christmas or like it is in the spring or fall. But I really think about 
these things around the holidays because things look so different when 
they're all decorated and lit up. Although we can still enjoy 99% of life 
without our sight, you hav to admit there are some things that are just 100% 
visual that absolutely need sight to be able to enjoy such as Christmas 
lights. I like being able to stand back from the tree and see it all lit up 
and see the patterns of lights, etc. But, if you are totally blind, you 
can't get that same enjoyment by simply touching the lights. LOL. All you 
would be able to do is feel they were warm because of being on, right? Don't 
get me wrong, I'm not saying you have to be partially blind or sighted to 
enjoy the holidays, but there are some aspects of seasonal times of the 
year, such as the holidays, that are visual. At the same time, there are 
more than visual things that you can enjoy. It just made me wonder, for 
those of you who are blind and have kids or raised kids previously, did it 
ever bother you when they would open up their gifts on Christmas, and 
although you could hear the excitement in their voice, you couldn't see them 
opening their gifts or see the expressions on their faces?

Just wanted to bring this up to generate some discussion on the topic since 
I found that interesting

Chasity


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