Plodding on seven years later, I often wonder if our little Minster Munch knows that his harness wearing days will not be forever. Our working life together will cease anytime within the next 21 months when he will have to retire. I, on the other hand, have a mere 21 years until I retire. It is a possibility that I could be matched with 3 more Guide Dogs in my working life, each one bringing their own quirks and perks.
Revisiting my naivety of what I thought life with a Guide Dog would be like always makes me cackle and cringe in equal measure. Firstly, I thought life changes would be subtle, my Guide Dog would listen at all times, and I would never have to apologise for our behaviours. Hmmmm, that didn’t go quite to plan. From day one together, everyone noticed the unusual Shetland pony sized Guide Dog that appeared in our relatively small town. Minster Munch made it clear that he only completed his 20 months of training to be able to become my master and train me into conformity via his cuteness. His behaviour throughout our time together can be categorised anywhere between attention seeking and driven, but always professional when in work mode.
I was asked this week by a 6 year old client if Munch knew if he was a Guide Dog and not a pet dog? I flummoxed an incoherent answer back, stating that “I think he just thinks he is just Munch, and when he puts his harness on, he just does Guide Dog stuff”. On reflection, I think this is truer than I originally thought. Munch, in all honesty believes everyone is his friend (or sometimes staff member), has unconditional love for every species, and is free spirited enough to be in love with living life his own innocent way. A human concept of a dog can never truly honour their ability to innately help and enhance the lives of those around them.
We are due for a review in the next couple of weeks to see how our partnership is getting on and how our little Munch is doing in his Guide Dog role. He will be checked over more regularly by the vets from now on to see how his health is doing, and I will be closely monitoring his energy levels and eagerness as he slips into his work harness daily. At the age of nine, his younger doggy friends are beginning to run a little faster than him as his paws pound the ground during free runs, but each day, he still shows up wanting to play. Focusing on the beauty of the now. Munch is being as Munchish as ever, which I am eternally grateful for. Nothing lasts forever, but now is good enough for us
As Munch awaits patiently to turn 9 tomorrow on the 18th December, where he will be showered with love, gifts and possibly a treat or ten, I find myself reflecting back on our last seven years together in our Guide Dog partnership.
When he trotted into my life at 23 months full of charisma and cheek, I wondered what it would be like when he would grow older and wiser. Seven years on, and he may have grown older but the wiser..? … maybe not. He seems as healthy today as he was when we met. He runs like a pup, explores new places in total awe, gets the Zoomies at least once a day, meets everyone with his helicopter tail, and will sit his six stone self on anyone’s lap regardless if they want it or not.
Luckily, he has not shown any sign of slowing down as he grows gracefully towards his senior years. After his operation a little while back to remove a fatty lump, he seems to bouncing back stronger than ever. What follows is my nine favourite memories with this sprightly ageless Labradoodle that I have had the pleasure of sharing over the years.
Always biting off more than he can chew
Munch always thinks big and enjoys getting himself in situations that he usually needs rescuing from. From getting stuck in mud, getting stuck under the same hotel bed ….3 times…. , to instigating a speedy rescue operation from a London Park after a minor injury accompanied with major dramatic acting skills, life is never dull.
Being the leader of our pack
Whilst out and about, you will always find Munch leading out in front of us all. With four adult children and three grandchildren, our pack needs a leader, and Munch is the dog for the job. Slightly led by ego, but mainly by pride, our sashaying warrior is always happy to lead us astray. One of his favourite places to guard us s under a table at a restaurant. He heroically leaps at a dropped chip and devoures it , just incase it causes injury to us. Well that is what he will lead you to believe anyway.
Being the eyes in our relationship
Now, Munch’s vocabulary has increased over our time together and recognises many words in the usual shops we visit. Even when the shops move the layout around, Munch can sniff out certain items such as cheese, bread, treats and crisps to name but a few. Unfortunately, I am still waiting for him to find the spinach, mangoes, and tomatoes that grace the supermarket aisle, as for some reason, he takes less interest in these products. Strange eh?
He became a hairy author
In 2019, Munch wrote a book with his own four paws. Well maybe I helped a little. What You See When You Can’t See looked at what life is like being blind and how Guide Dogs transform lives in magical ways. With some honest and funny tales of my life pre and post Munch, I wanted to help people have insight into a world that is very different than a sighted person’s life. With Munch being the main star of the show, no tale is left untold. He has graced television shows, been interviewed on radio stations and numerous magazines yet has kept his paws placed firmly on the ground.
He became bilingual
Our little Minster (his official Guide Dog name) Munch, has a Canadian Poodle father and an English Labrador mother and was born in England. Moving to this funny little country, Wales must have been a cultural shock but he has taking it all in his stride. Our strong accents and complex language is not for the faint-hearted , but Munch has picked up our language really well. Working predominantly in Welsh speaking schools , he has learnt instructions such as stairs, door, left, right etc with surprising ease and can follow commands in either language. He has also become a bit of a Welsh rugby fan, which is a bonus for him when the whole family are passionately shouting at the TV when we are playing rugby. If you can’t beat them, join them.
He is my Zen in my Zena
Munch joins me everyday in my meditation practice. Whether I am on my meditation cushion or in my bed, Munch is always by my side listening to tranquil music as he enters his own portal of paradise. If we fit in a sneaky meditation during our lunch hour at work, Munch happily snoozes on top of my feet and radiates the most Zen energy eve. He brings the Zen when I am too Zenaish, and reminds me to breathe. Centre and just be zen
Being the odd one out is always a privilege
Munch stands out from the crowd in so many unique ways. From being called an ‘odd looking Guide Dog’ too many times to remember, to attracting all the right questions about Guide Dogs, Munch never fails to show up and is always eager to help. Breaking the norms of traditional looking Guide Dogs is one of Munch’s strengths and highlights that judging on looks alone will never bring you truth. Being the odd one out makes you shine the brightest and always will.
Munch is the strength and light to many
Munch has an eternal healing energy that seems to never depleat. From lovingly sitting with sobbing clients, to being drawn to the lonely in life to make them feel connected, he is always searching out a heart to heal with his paws, kisses, and his presence. When my mother (who was his greatest fan) passed away nearly two years ago, he cried at her funeral and still lays peacefully on top of her grave when we visit. His unconditional love is eternal to every soul he has ever met.
He is always ready to help
Not only does he work with me five days a week in schools, he is always willing to give up his weekends to do his bit for his fellow Guide Dogs. Being worshipped by the public is an added bonus, obviously, but he never tires of showcasing how life changing being a Guide Dog is. Even on the eve of his birthday, he put his best paw forward and took part in some fundraising.
Wishing you a very Happy 9th Birthday Munch filled with fun, love and some tasty treats . ❤️
Having blurred vision from birth has had its blessings.
As up to 80% of our impressions rely on sight, so having to rely on other senses, I have been able to view a different life to most. I have always thanked my alternative vision for not being able to join in with toxic judgment of others. When others around me would comment negatively on the appearance of others, I would remain silent and thank the universe that I was not blessed with functional vision to cruely judge.
I have never felt that I have missed out on anything significant in life due to being born with a sight impairement. Not being able to drive leads to stress free travel. Travelling to sightsee has never felt like an option when you can travel to more than landmarks in your imagination anytime. Not being able to see the facial expressions of people when I say or do the wrong thing is greatly appreciated always. Therefore, when my opthalmic surgeon advised recently that my grade 3 cataract is pretty inoperable, my world didn’t fall apart. In fact, I had not really noticed that it was living happily in my eye anyway due to being severely sight Impaired.
For the general population with healthy eyes, cataract surgery is a pretty straightforward operation with a very high success rate. For those of us with preexisting eye conditions, things get a little more tricky when being offered surgery. With Marfan Syndrome, due to the impact of the condition on the connective tissue in the body, complications are more likely. When I had my first eye surgery in 2000, the complications from the surgery caused far more damage than expected and left scarring and the need for a lensectomy. News of not being able to operate, therefore, was more of a relief than a curse.
My opthalmic surgeon spoke about the only small possibility to operate would be to have two teams on standby in surgery as he was uncertain what the eye was like until he went in. Even if the cataract surgery was a success, there could be no guarantee that my vision would improve due to my eye/brain connection insufficiently developing from birth. In short, I could have amazing surgery to restore vision, but my eye /brain connection still wouldn’t be able to play ball in helping me to see clearly.
Having never been able to see things around me clearly is not a problem for me, really, as I know no different. A sighted individual may see this as something that needs to be ‘fixed’ due to their only frame of reference they have in life, is centred around sight. My only frame of reference is sight loss, and fixing that is something that would cause more problems that it would solve if it ever miraculously could be ‘fixed’
I have lived 46 years, ‘seeing’ the world differently. Blobs and blurs make sense to me. Having to learn a whole new way of interpreting these blobs and blurs into the visual world would be challenging, to say the least. Having an open discussion with my surgeon about this was refreshing . He explained that I have never had ‘good enough’ vision throughout life, and that is perfectly okay. My cataract will soon become hypermature as it reaches stage 4 (I wonder if it will be entitled to its own pension?) and obscure my lack of vision even more and it doesn’t bother me at all.
Surrendering to the inevitable is the most freeing thing you could possibly do. The immense feeling of peace in acceptance of even the most challenging of life changes can allow life to be lived harmoniously. Living your own unique life path alongside the masses helps strengthen essential resilience in life that will get you through tough times. My blurfectly full life is blurfect just as it is.
After quite some time away, I decided to go back to play a bit of Visually Impaired Indoor Bowls and ended up getting through to the quarter finals at the Welsh Pairs Tournament. Do you think it’s too late to tell them I still don’t know all the rules of the game?
Playing against some players who have been playing for well over a decade was a great experience as I learnt so much terminology through eavesdropping alone. I have learnt that a “fire” is something only woods on the green should be scared of, bias is always a good thing to have, and following through is always smiled upon. Who would have thought, eh?
In 2019, I somehow managed to win bronze for Wales in an international tournament despite only playing about 12 times or so before that. My local club play in the week whilst I am in work, so I only get to play when I am on holidays, so I can go months between practices, which means that I have totally forgotten how to deliver a bowl by the time I return. For me, I just love going as I am surrounded by people who get what it is like not being able to see as the rest of the world do.
Within the Visually Impaired bowling community, the sighted are the minority group and are the ones directing the bowlers. They are the eyes for us all and the translators between the two worlds. Being among fellow Guide Dog and cane users feels homely where we never have to apologise or explain to others about how we show up in the world as they too can be unashamedly authentically themselves. The sense of belonging is a feeling I will never tire from.
Belonging to the B1 bowlers means I am among fellow severely sighted Impaired bowlers (what was previously categorised as Blind) who either have no light perception so see just darkness, or have some light perception such as myself but no useful vision. To me, I cannot make out the dark coloured woods on the green as the all merge into one shadowy shade. I cannot see when the wood leaves my hand and I use my ears to judge if it was a bumpy or smooth delivery and rely on my coach to let me know where it is going. I need to hold the information in my head at all times to try and remember how far my last wood was from the jack and somehow waken my muscle memory to remember how to adjust my next wood. Being blind whilst bowling helps you tune into your body on another level.
Playing against some of the other bowlers who play in the B2, B3 or B4 categories can sometimes feel a little off putting, as although many have differening visual impairements, some use their useful vision to play. Those who can see to the other end of the green and use markings around to help them with their game, may have tunnel vision and such visual disturbances that qualify them to play in a VI team. Playing with mixed ability players is a great experience to help improve my skill level, which I love. The mix of ages within teams is also great, and we currently have an amazing 100 year old gentleman playing with us who plays like a teenager. To some, barriers are just imagined by the faint-hearted
The plan is now to actually begin to understand the game a bit more even though I should already know what I am doing. When you can’t see what goes on around you, you have to keep so much information in your head to help you remember every single detail that the sighted easily access with their eyes. On a plus side , it is really good when I can’t see all the mistakes I make on the green. Sometimes, ignorance can be so bliss.
As your head slumps down on my leg, I know that you are looking for more than just a pillow. With the creeping of the paw across the top of my foot, you are drawing me closer into your world to let me know how tough your day has been. From greeting grieving clients to daftly chasing your tail to stop tears falling from their eyes, you are never just a mere dog in the room, but you are the reason some keep coming back.
Feeling your head get heavy against my shin as the land on nod invites you in, I remember why you were picked to be the loving Guide Dog that you are. You sleep in peace when you know that you have loved and been loved in ways that only you can. You never tire from being the transformer of pain into solace as you become the comforter to all you meet. As I counsel, so do you, as we work together to lighten the load.
When they hear the rumours around school that there is a counsellor with a dog, our waiting list rockets to be seen by “the one with the dog”. They come, they meet and they never want to leave. Friendships form between the two legged and the four legged race in ways that need no explaining. You become their anchor in a constantly changing sea of emotions as they learn to find and trust who is there for their own stormy life. You Munch, are always more than just a dog for so many.
Rest your head on me whenever you need. Cwtch away anytime of day to help recharge your healing heart that you openly share with so many. As the ebb and flow of pure love fleets through your life, I love to be the number one witness to capture these moments that you attract in your life. Your altruistic life is one to be recreated en masse but be sustained by a few , as your consistency isn’t for the faint hearted.
Being the support to the supporter is one gift I will be eternally grateful to have.
Spot the emotional difference between these two pictures,
Let me help you out. The first one is of Munch in Guide Dog work mode having a sit down protest as he seeks some freedom, and the second one is his off harness happiness when he gets his own way. The thing about Munch is that he wears his heart on his hairy face and although I can’t see that, I can certainly feel it in his energy and behaviour. Not one to shy away from drama, Munch uses his BAFTA winning skills to tell me what he wants and when he wants it. Nearly six years into our Owner Munch/maid relationship has taught me that a happy dog equals a happy me.
Whilst out for a walk recently, I was reminded of what life was like the first few months that we were partnered up. Stubborn, stroppy Munch popped out a lot in the early days as he found his paws in a brand new life after leaving his puppy raisers and trainers that he had securely attached too. Entering my life must have been a huge change for him as he learnt to settle in yet again to a new environment with new rules and ways of life. Graduating from Guide Dog training school to a full time position can’t have been easy for this lifelong Labradoodle friend, so learning to have the give and take in our relationship was essential from the start.
The first sign of an inflexible sit down whilst on duty only means one thing, Munch is ready for a break and if I want him to continue to work to his best ability, a break he will have. Guide Dogs concentrate so hard whilst on harness as they avoid obstacles, find routes and keep us safe, then it is only fair that they have downtime to recharge themselves. Admittedly, Munch would constantly live in downtime dreamtime if he had a chance so does try it on sometimes but that’s all part and parcel of his whole lovable persona.
Slipping the harness over his majestic head , he will seek out fun at the first opportunity. If there are others around to witness his attention seeking adventures then all the better. In the second picture above, he decided that the cows and calves were his new best friends as they slowly began to gather by the fence to try and figure out what he was. A gentle sniff of them told him that these would be good play mates to try and corrupt. Over 5 years ago when he stumbled across this field full of cattle, he sat down and stared at them but remained on harness as I had not then learnt to be lead by his wishes to be let off harness just to have some freedom.
All to often we try to train animals for our wishes, wants and needs and to feel that our control is the more important in our partnerships. Boundaries are essential but that also counts both ways. Listening to Munch tell me that he needs a break and space to be a dog not just a working dog is his right to have his boundary respected and that is something that I will always honour. A ten minute exploration off harness allows his inquisitive needs to be met and equality to restore in our working relationship. I believe that we need to be of service to service animals as much as they are of service to us to be able to have a partnership full of love and respect.
As Munch approaches the last few years of his working life, I hope to to give more than I take from him to help him know how much he is loved and valued. Synced up souls always have happier experiences as they travel through life together witnessing each others joy.
The Birthday Boy celebrated by coming out for some delicious lunch, opened some tasty treats and had some Christmas themed toys. A good free run later, and he went back to his 100 mph couch potato mode! All in all, a perfect day for a perfect dog.
To celebrate his birthday, here are seven of my favourite photos that capture his unique style of being
Here Munch can be seen smiling away in bliss as he settles down for a nap. He is the happiest when he is spreading his love strewn hair in every place it is not meant to be. Clean bedding and recently hoovered sofas are his favourite place to settle down for an afternoon snooze.
With his Lord and Master standing above us mere souls, I am are reminded that the poodle part of him will always demand superiority. I, a mere maid, needs to remember her placing in our partnership as I attend to whatever he needs.
My best meditation buddy is never far from my side. The blessing of living with a Guide Dog is that we are always together day and night and he never has to be left alone. My hobbies by default become his hobbies. My friends become his friends. There is no longer a “me” but always a “we”.
My bilingual hairy bear understands both Welsh and English commands with ease. Over the last five years being with me working in Welsh schools, he has picked up the lingo very well and has a speciality in understanding food in Welsh. Strange that!
Our little Minster Munch is rather partial to a bit of drama. Not one to stiffle his frustration with putting up with me, he owns his sighs with pride allowing them to flow fluidly throughout the day. The master of eye rolls, Munch is far from shy in showing his disapproval with his dancing eye muscles.
Munch has been mistaken for a lot in his last seven years of life. From an Irish Wolfhound to a Shetland pony, many have been understandable. With the paw prints the size of a yeti’s and the resemblance of the Loch Ness Monster whilst swimming, he loves to keep people guessing what he actually is.
Being chosen to take part in the 12 Guide Dogs of Christmas has to be one of his highlights of his seven years of life. Showing the public his unconventional Guide Dog look will hopefully go along way in helping the charity to raise enough money to fund 12 New Guide Dogs. To find out more please visit.
90 years ago, the lives of people with sight loss was very different. Support was sometimes non existent or at the very best limited. Children’s futures were restricted by what society thought a child or young person was capable of in relation to their sight. Society in general was more discriminative than inclusive as education around sight loss was still very patchy. In short, life plateaued for the majority of people with sight loss at a certain age and stage in life as potential remained a secret treasure that was rarely found. 90 years ago, life was very different for us all but thanks to many movements to support people with sight loss, positive changes were essential in helping us live the enhanced lives we do today.
Arguably, Louis Braille started the ball rolling in 1824 as he developed Braille as a way to help himself enter into the sighted world of reading and communicating which has gone on to help an enormous amount of people with sight loss have equal access to the written word. The Blind Person’s Act in 1920 deepened the rights and welfare of people with sight loss to be protected which was a huge step forward. It was the introduction of Guide Dogs in October 1931 however that really created change in the lives of individuals with sight loss the most.
Since the first partnership 90 years ago between the canine and human world, things have developed massively. 90 years on, the charity is now also helping children with sight loss as well as adults and does more than just train dogs for partnership. They educate, raise public awareness about sight loss, campaign and do so much more to help the lives of people with sight loss become enriched and limit free. The Guide Dogs charity allows hope where there once was none and help bridge the gap between the sighted and sight loss world which is huge. They help nurture and train these beautiful dogs that become our true best friends.
Life before Munch was tough. Living 39 years of my life with secret sight loss I learnt ways of keeping it hidden from people but it took a lot of time and energy. When you have never seen a face , just a blur and have never seen what is across the room from you, that is just life. How can you miss a picture on a wall that you do not know is there? When that life became a little dangerous from all the falls, breaks, dislocations and many other injuries, it was time to admit I needed help. The help that I got was Minster who affectionately became known as Munch.
It has been nearly five years since I was partnered up with my hairy soul mate Minster Munch and there has never been a dull moment. Munch has been more than just practical help, he has become my matching odd sock. The Drama King that he is, has almost made me forget I have sight loss as that part of me now has a bouncer. I can stand down from my past relentless reliance on memory that got me from a to b as I remembered each route in my head with a combination of muscle memory, counting and taking information from overloaded senses. He does all that now and more. Admittedly, on a rare occasion a passing squirrel may make his attention go elsewhere for a nanosecond but in general, he is now my lighthouse keeper to steer me away from danger.
Munch is my hairy little (ok more Shetland Pony sized ) soul mate who just happens to be a Guide Dog on the side. He deserves the best in life as he has changed my life and the life of my family forever. Guide Dogs are never just dogs, they are the special beings that complete us. Training more Minster Munch like heroes is costly and that is why around the country, there are numerous fundraising events during this month. If you would like to make a different, please visit http://www.guidedogs.org.uk to see how you can help. Thanks from the hairy and not so hairy partners across the land
Sorry I have been a bit absent recently. It is just that my furry presence has been needed elsewhere over the last few months, so I have not had time to instruct my maid to write any posts.
Seven weeks ago, my two-legged grandmother was taken to hospital and has been there ever since. She is doing okay but will be in for a few more weeks. I have only got to see her once, so I am missing her like mad. The beauty of my Guide Dog harness means that I can go into almost any place, so I get to sashay my way into hospital and such. My two-legged grandmother was on a ward with three other patients, and I managed to sneak around to the other patients to give them some much needed pet therapy too. A quick lick of a hand here, and a snuggle into a lap there and the Munch Magic had been spread as wide as their growing smiles. A quick picture taken by a staff member or two and we had to leave. Healing through joy and pure unconditional love will reach places that no medicine ever can.
Three months ago, my two-legged brother also lost a loved one, so we have been helping to sort out their house. As the two-legged humans have been busy sorting through things, I have been laying down peacefully on the couch where the loved one once lay. I have walked around the garden that they enjoyed to be in. I have sniffed each piece of furniture that they had put together with patience and pride. Their feet may no longer walk around the place they were proud to call home, but my paws still feel the footprints that they have left in their home and in the hearts of many.
My fur has been washed with tears from the children in schools, as they have had nowhere else to leave them flow freely. My nose has been kissed by lips that used to kiss their own dogs’ noses whilst they still lived on this earth. A loving ear scratch from a passing teacher gives a blast of oxytocin which will help them get through the rest of the day in peace and love in their hearts. Our work in schools gives me much happiness, as my maids words and my tranquil way gives holistic healing to both clients and us equally.
I may not have been dictating my doggy thoughts much recently for my maid to write due to the chaos of life, but I have been thinking about you all. The maid and I wish you are all well and if not, we are sending you masses of hairy doggy and less hairy human hugs. As our summer break from schools comes closer, we will aim to blog more as catch up with what you have all been doing. Much love from me and the maid.
I know what you are thinking. It is a Yeti croissant but no, you would be wrong!
That is the thing with assuming with our eyes, we never really get it right no matter how hard we try. We can never utterly understand what our eyes are tricking us into believing, as we only really see one perspective of an object that fits in with our world belief. Being led around by my hairy soul mate Munch lets people think that he is working for me, whereas anyone who knows him will know that I really work for him. Leading me to a place we need to go, results in a treat or two being eagerly hoovered up and me giving him at least a ten-minute worshipping ritual, telling him how he is the best living being ever in the world. We have found our power balance in our relationship and let us just say it is far from equal. Anyone with a Labradoodle knows that the power always lays with them and never with us.
The deception of looks alone has led us to many a faux pas in our four years together. From being mistaken as Munch’s trainer as I “didn’t look blind enough to have a Guide Dog” (???) to being asked where my collection bucket was for the imaginary fundraising collection someone though I was doing as a fully sighted person with a Guide Dog, assumptions can be wrong. Assuming Munch’s innocent face is incapable of being one of the world’s most notorious ball thief, is also another misconception. Maybe now is not the time to go into his known alias of “Good Boy” that everyone calls him when really, one of my friends knows him as the Pasty Thief that gently and lovingly alighted a pasty from her three year old daughters hand just as it was about to be transported to her mouth. A swift pasty replacement later and all was forgiven but the name has still stuck.
For me, one of the most infuriating misconceptions in the world today is when people criticize the “youth of today” from the narrative of the media alone without enough experience to make up their own minds about judging a whole section of society. Admittedly, I am slightly biased having worked with children and young people for the last twenty-six years on and off, but at least I have a privileged insight into their world. Working in schools with a Guide Dog brings with it many comments being directly and indirectly aimed at me. Some are hilarious, some are tactful, whilst others are said filter free but I for one love variety, so all are welcomed. There are times however that are heart melting such as the one that happened last week.
Asking Munch to “find the steps” for us to lead us to our room, he quickened the pace before stopping at the end of the steps for my foot to find our starting point. Having the fuzzy triple visioned blurry light colour ahead of us seemingly reaching up to the heavens (which the sighted call stairs), we began climbing. I was aware of two pairs of footsteps ahead of me going in the same direction and held back a little for us not to get in their way. Mid climb, one pair of light footsteps stopped and began coming back down. Just as we were about to move to the side to let the lively feet and attached body to pass us, they stopped just in front of us. A sweet-sounding teenage boy seemed to lean towards us and ask, “Excuse me, do you need any help at all?”
It took me a while to wonder why he would ask if I needed help? I began to wonder if I was walking in the wrong direction into a forbidden part of the school or if something horrible had attached to me on our way up the stairs when I remembered I couldn’t see and had a Guide Dog with me. I know it sounds weird but if you have never been able to see clearly from birth and everything is always a blur, you know no different and it is never really an issue. This is my world where I forget I cannot see as I have never know any different. It is when I am totally oblivious to the fact that it is a disability, there is always a gentle reminder that appears to remind me that it is. When I walk with Munch by my left hand side, I totally forget he is a Guide Dog as I chatter away to him asking him to turn left or right or find doors and objects whilst praising him as we go. The problem when you have sight loss living in a sighted world is that you sometimes forget that people can see.
When my brain finally caught up with what the sweet boy meant, my heart melted. He must have seen someone with an obvious disability (even though I was too away with the fairies to remember I had one myself) and took time out of his day to ask if there was anyway he could help. He did it so discreetly, lowering his tone not to draw attention which in itself showed what kind hearted soul he really was. I thanked him a lot for stopping to ask but said we were fine. As he went on his way he told me to take care which I wished him back as my smile widened. There are more Earth Angels around us than we realized. This seemingly small interaction between a teenager from the Sighted world and a grandmother from the Sight Loss world spoke volumes about the world we live it.
To him, his kindness was a natural part of his being . To me, his kindness was a gift that will get him so far in life that I hope his Karmic bank overflows. He saw me with a disability where I may have needed a bit of assistance. Whereas I saw myself as fully able bodied . We were both 100 % right in that situation in our own ways. I hope that he always has someone around to help him if he ever needs it.