[Blindtlk] Christmas questions

[Judy Jones]

Hi, Chasity,

My husband and I are both blind, and we LOVE doing Christmas, lights, tree, 
the whole works.  We have ten-foot ceilings in our home, so the bigger the 
tree, the better.

It's true that vision will give people input that is absent due to its 
simple absence, but that hasn't taken away the excitement, the fun, the 
anticipation.

I think a lot of this also depends on what people grew up doing with their 
families.  For instance, if they weren't expected to participate in 
preparations, or if the family didn't make a big deal out of Christmas 
preparations, then those persons may not take it as seriously either.

As for our kids, from the "git-go," they have always expressed themselves 
quite adequately vocally, verbally, etc.  How they feel and what they are 
thinking at a given moment is rarely a mystery around our house.  We also 
taped the Christmas mornings we opened presents, so this substituted for 
pictures for Chris and I.  The girls have had cameras since they were in 
grade school so have taken their own pictures.  Before that, we always got 
friends to take pictures for us with a Polaroid.

Another thought, as fun as the preparations are, it takes work and 
organization, and some may not feel the energy to do either.

The first Christmas I was on my own, I got a small part of a tree, about 3 
feet high.  I didn't have a tree stand, so stuffed the bottom in a green 
Tupperware bucket, and sat it on an end-table.

Since then, we have had put-together trees, real trees, fiberoptic trees . . 
. Plus I love putting lights around our front porch, along the pillars and 
railings and roof.  Even though I can't see them, it's fun to imagine how 
they must look to passers-by.

I use the NFB light probe to test our lights each year before putting them 
up to make sure all is in order.

My husband hasn't been much for the actual decorating work, but he enjoys 
the end product.  The kids and I usually do it.  And now with our girls 
mostly grown and working, the decos will fall to me this year.  So, when 
everyone is out of the house, I'll turn up my Christmas music full blast and 
enjoy myself.

Best wishes for a merry Christmas.

Judy

----- 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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