Sunday, September 23, 2007

Blind For Real

Last week, I was standing in front of the entrance of the mall, waiting for my sister, who had walked away to give someone directions to the nearest hospital. As I was waiting, this clueless woman walked up to me and asked me if I could please help her read a telephone number off a sheet of paper she had in her hand. She said, and I quote. “Ma’am, can you please read this number for me. I can’t see if this is a 5 or what. I might as well be blind.”

Well, I knew that my response to the lady was going to embarrass her. But I had to go ahead and break the truth off to her,but in a polite manner, of course.

I tilted my head to the side, smiled, and said, “I’m sorry; I can’t read that for you. I’m blind for real.”

The lady nearly fainted. She was all embarrassed and everything. The next thing you know she started apologizing over and over. “I am so sorry. I’m so sorry.”

While she was apologizing over and over, I was laughing over and over.

I don’t know why I was laughing at the woman in her face. I already knew she was going to be embarrassed once I informed her that she was asking a blind woman to see something for her sighted behind. But I couldn’t help it. It was just funny to me. So, I laughed.

Thankfully, my sister walked up and saved the woman from her failing eyes and my shameless giggling.

My life is so not boring. The unique experiences never stop coming.

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

You need a camerawoman/man to follow you around all day. I'm sure the TLC station would pick up your show. What do you think the title of your show would be?

Brian said...

Yeah... you need a Reality Show Angela.

"Life With Angela" on TLC... I can feel a proposal idea coming.

They have the Roloffs, and the family with 100 kids... They follow Rich folks around like Kimora Lee... Bobby Brown.... Those shows really don't have much to offer. Your show would have material that is sociologically significant and educational... because no one has done a reality show like that before..and as you mentioned before... the general public is often clueless about how to deal with persons who have a disability like blindness.

Hmmm... might be a show idea.

I think Heber is on to something.

Anonymous said...

Exactly! I'm telling you that I would watch the show.

It's funny that you mentioned the Roloffs, AI. About three Saturdays ago I watched a couple of episodes back to back. It was just fascinating to me learning more about the experiences of little people.

Ok Angie - get in your prayer closet. I see a winning proposal for real.

Angela L. Braden, Writer, Speaker, Professor said...

AI and Heber, y'all so sweet!

Funny you should make mention of that. I've often wondered how do people actually pitch an idea for a reality show on TLC, Lifetime, Oxegen, WE, and so on. I've even wondered how do "regular folks" actually get their stories made into a Lifetime movie.

I hate to prostetute my blindness. But a girl needs to get paid somehow.

But all joking aside... As you know, I've always wanted to educated individuals about disability, especially significant disabilities that impact most aspects of everyday life.

If you guys have some insight on how to do that, let me know.

I've been thinking about doing like a internet audio diary of my experiences. But I don't even know the first thing about podcasting.

Heber, you want to help? Really, I'm serious. Shoot me an e-mail.

Angie