[Journalists] helping sighted understand

[Cheryl Wade]

			Dear Liz, and listers,

Let me assure you, first of all, that this conversation happened a 
long time ago and my newspaper, like yours, always has been very 
supportive of my series of guide dogs. This was, I believe, one older 
guy's worry, and i probably wasn't supposed to know it.

Now I have a big (the Bus!) German shepherd named Harper. I worried 
about how the 83-pound Harper would fit into things, but all the 
people with whom I ride are wonderful and love him a lot.

My dogs have, I believe, given my sources a sense that I, too, am 
vulnerable just like they are. Sometimes, when I get off the county 
bus and show up at someone's door, I wish I could see their initial 
expressions. I think some of them are simply surprised. Everyone 
who's commented on my dogs have said they enjoy the fact that someone 
who is blind has such an active life and does so many things in the 
community.

Speaking of dog friends, wish you guys could see my cute "little 
Harpey." In his heart, he's such a baby-dog. But he did do one 
wonderful thing when he arrived here: he crawled under my desk 
immediately, without my asking him to find a place somewhere, and 
that has been his little cave ever since.

One silly thing just happened the other day. Because we are small and 
in downsize and replace mode, there wasn't anybody at the front of 
the newsroom the other afternoon to greet a customer. She was an 
older woman, and she walked in, looking around to find someone with 
whom she could talk. The two of us in my section were hunkered over 
our computers, and finally she got our attention, only to be greeted 
immediately by a big dog who emerged from his desk-cave and headed 
her way, most likely with his licky mouth open. (I stopped him.) All 
I could think of was, This is the crazy home!

Cheryl Wade