[nfb-talk] New THOUGHT PROVOKER 117- Why My Type of Cane

Mon Jan 15 21:04:21 CST 2007

I used to use a shorter cane, but I kept socking myself in the gut.  A
longer cane has kept me from doing that.

-----Original Message-----
From: nfb-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nfb-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
Behalf Of dmgina
Sent: Monday, January 15, 2007 8:57 PM
To: NFB Talk Mailing List
Subject: Re: [nfb-talk] New THOUGHT PROVOKER 117- Why My Type of Cane

I use the roll tip canes.
They glide over grass as well as the sidewalks.
I don't scrunch myself in the middle with the rolling slide left to rite.
I also can't lift a cane well since I took a fall, so this works out grate.
I was using the roller tip before my fall.
I also use a short cane, because I want to be at the curb the same time my
cane is.
I panic out if the cane hits the curb and I have several steps to take to
get to it.

--Dar
wishing a
backTpack
call me at
406-259-1124
Every Saint has a past,
Every sinner has a future ,
----- Original Message -----
From: "Robert Leslie Newman" <newmanrl at cox.net>
To: "nfbtalk" <NFB-talk at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Sunday, January 14, 2007 9:24 PM
Subject: [nfb-talk] New THOUGHT PROVOKER 117- Why My Type of Cane

> NFBtalk
> RE:  Why My Type of Cane
>
> The new THOUGHT PROVOKER #117 is on a mission to look at the reasons why 
> we
> choose the cane we do.  If you have not read the THOUGHT 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 117
> Why My Type of Cane
> Slowing traffic sounds to my left was the first indication the corner was
> nearing.  It was Saturday morning, downtown, and I was on my way to meet 
> up
> with fellow members of a local consumer group of the blind; we were to 
> march
> in a community pride parade, wearing our specially labeled T-shirts,
> brightly stenciled placards held high and everyone's white cane tapping in
> cadence.
>
> "So far I do not like this new tip!"  I was trying out a new version of 
> the
> Rain Shine tip; its upper part had been changed from a pliable rubbery
> substance to one that was rigid.  It hit harder, changing both the 
> vibration
> and sound of the cane.  I always modify my cane, try and make it be the 
> best
> tool for me.  This one was a long white cane, up to my nose, because I was

> a
> fast walker and needed the extra forewarning of what was coming up.  It 
> was
> made of fiberglass, its shaft basically a hollow tapered tube and where it
> originally was outfitted with a longish metal screw inserted into its 
> small
> end to accommodate the snapping on of a large metal tip, I removed the
> screw, Put on this smaller tip which slipped snuggly onto the end of the
> shaft, with the result being the cane was lighter at its tip end, easier 
> to
> manipulate and gave a higher pitch to the tap.
>
> The echo feedback from the buildings I paralleled to the right ceased, a
> breeze struck, sounds opened up to right and left, the end of block and 
> the
> curb was next.  TAP, TAP.  "There they are."  It was the echo of utility
> poles next to the curb-cut.  Two strides later I felt the tip of my cane 
> dip
> slightly down, showing me the slant of the curb-cut.
>
> The cars to the left advanced, no traffic approached from the right and so

> I
> stepped out.  Across the street was where we were to meet prior to walking
> to the staging point.  Crossing swiftly, I used the echo feedback from the
> on-coming curb to locate the lower audio profile of the curb-cut and 
> pointed
> my steps to it.
>
> Up on the sidewalk I listened down the block, scanning for anyone.  "Nope,
> no one here."  I was first.  Then I heard footsteps coming.  CLOP, CLOP. 
> As
> the footsteps got within 15 feet, I heard the nylon tipped cane my friend
> Nancy use; totally blind, her preferred travel combo was to wear shoes 
> with
> loud  soles to set up echoes and a quiet cane to feel for obstacles.
>
> The next person coming up was Marlene, her roller tipped cane going
> "WIZ-/RATTLE-WIZ."  She was partially blind and preferred this mode of
> travel aid.
>
> The next cane I recognized coming was the lose jointed rattle of Tom's old
> metal tipped, red-bottom folding cane.
>
> Soon, we had two dozen of us there, each with his or her favorite cane and
> we were ready to head out for the final rendezvous .
>
> "Excuse me."  Spoke up a guy that had walked up.  "But I notice that many 
> of
> you have different styles of white canes, some tall, some short and some
> with a red bottom.  And I'm curious as to why that is?  "
>
>
>
> Robert Leslie Newman
> E-Mail- newmanrl at cox.net
> Web Site- thoughtprovoker.info
>
>

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