Posted by: Cynthia ®
04/04/2004, 21:11:28
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I no longer go walking alone at night even though we live in a small town. I also refrain from daytime walking across busy streets, especially 4-way stops. I would like to think it's just being reasonable, but there is probably an element of fear involved. Though I still drive, I refrain from going very far at night because that's when my eyes are at their worst, and I want to avoid a possible troublesome drive home. Stay safe, everyone,
Cynthia in smalltown, IL
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Posted by: June in Toronto ®
04/04/2004, 21:20:46
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I hardly ever go out at night Claire, by myself - maybe a stroll once in a while during the hot summer nights if there is a local shopping sale or somethng similar (we live close to shops) and my eyes have been behaving themselves. Trying to cross the street with traffic is dangerous and I do get nervous with it all. In fact I don't go out much at all at nights, especially in the winter, even with my husband when he's driving. I can't tolerate the street/car/traffic lights during the darkness of the night and its just not worth it except of rare occasions perhaps to visit friends and have supper with them. My philosophy is that "I party during the day" and content myself to stay home at night. You are right to be concerned about the dangers especially as we don't see as well as we might. Stay safe.June in Toronto where winter has retured again.
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Posted by: Claire from Canada ®
04/06/2004, 20:15:05
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Winter was back in Ottawa, too. Yuk!! The capital city is always beautiful, but I can't wait to see it in the bright and warm summer sun!
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Posted by: June in Toronto ®
04/07/2004, 06:12:03
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Hang in there Claire, you'll have the magnificent tulip festival in Ottawa before you know it.June from Toronto
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Posted by: Kathleen ®
04/05/2004, 08:36:56
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I also have thought about how vulnerable I am when I am out and about. One of the reasons I quit my consulting business was because I didn't feel I could safely get around in big / strange cities anymore. I would be so intent on just moving forward that I would completely lose track of who / what was around me, so would have been an easy target for a mugger or worse. I almost got hit in the Walmart parking lot a couple months ago. My daughter said I walked right into the path of a car, while I thought I was moving straight forward. Fortunately, she was close enough to me that she pushed me out of the way. I'm still learning that sometimes I need to depend on others a little more. Now, when my eyes are particularly bad, I either stay home or go with someone who can be my eyes. I also am very carfeul to time any driving I need to do during daylight hours, as facing oncoming lights is sure to start spasms.
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Posted by: Barbara ®
04/05/2004, 11:08:48
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I have also developed a fear of going into large crowded areas by myself-like malls or even supermarkets. When my eyes are bad they spasm in public places and I get a little panicked. I live in a small town where safety is not much of an issue.
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Posted by: Raymond Fudge ®
04/05/2004, 12:31:15
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In Alabama, the Dept of Rehab will assist getting or give you a white cane designed for the "near blind". I have an appointment this Friday with them to see if they will get me one. They also provide assistance obtaining proper eye wear. The counsoler is blind and has several BEB, blind and near blind clients. With a cane people notice you and will give you "room". Although safety about being mugged is something I also have thought abut.
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Posted by: pdb ®
04/05/2004, 23:30:28
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My best result so far walking home from work is one parking meter, one light post, one parked motorcycle (fortunately) and three other pedestrians. At that point I gave up and started taking taxis to/from work, which fortunately is easy for me in central London. Getting around is like looking at a photograph, walking through the photograph and then taking another phto, and hoping no one got into the moving picture in between. A colleague at work (tongue in cheek) threatened to buy me a white stick and a small fluffy white dog to put on the end of it to warn others off. At work people open doors for me and get themselves out of the way so I'm getting them trained. It's out in the street that life gets exciting.Peter
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Posted by: June in Toronto ®
04/06/2004, 11:00:17
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Peter, London is a tough city not to see in - that I know for sure - take care.June in Toronto who was born in London
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Posted by: Claire from Canada ®
04/06/2004, 20:18:46
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Hi Peter,At my workplace, people are also getting used to jumping out of my way when I come by!!! So, I hardly ever bump into people there anymore!! Claire from Canada
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Posted by: Sally in Idaho ®
04/11/2004, 14:18:44
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Hi Claire,I share all those fears and have also had a few close calls, plus the embarrassment of running into others, either just by myself or with a shopping cart. My family thinks I tend to over-protect myself, but I figure I'd rather err on that side than find myself splatter on the pavement. It is obvious to me that I'd be an easy target for a mugger. In fact, I am sure that one such young man was "casing" me one day in a Target store. My eyes and balance were at their very worst and I was running into things and having to ask directions to departments. Every department I went to, this guy showed up and handled a few items ... never purchasing a thing ... and he didn't have a cart or basket. He was close behind me as I went to check out, so I waited a few minutes and then walked out when two or three others were going, chatting to them about the weather or something, immediately locking myself into the car and driving off. I had such an uneasy feeling around him. We need to remember that we are vulnerable and take extra precautions. Stay safe! Sally in North Idaho
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Posted by: Kathy in Atlanta ®
04/14/2004, 06:46:04
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Hell Yes!! I cannot think of a more vulnerable target than a person who cannot keep their eyes open for any length of time in a crowd of strangers or a public place.
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Posted by: Kathleen ®
04/14/2004, 08:22:10
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Ironically, Kathy, Atlanta is one of the cities that convinced me that traveling for my consulting business was no longer good for my health in more ways than one. I was driving on the perimeter freeway (can't remember the number anymore) and had to stop because of spasms. I had no idea where I was or if I was in a safe neighborhood. It was pretty scary for me. Otherwise, I loved Atlanta. My kids came with me once when I was going to be there for a week and they had a great time. The Mall of Georgia was my daughter's favorite, of course, and Dave and Buster's my son's.
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Posted by: Kathy in Atlanta ®
04/16/2004, 11:29:21
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I was talking about just walking! But you are right , traffic here is absolutely some of the worst. I think they have some plans to make it better however, eventually.
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Posted by: Lynn Yarbrough ®
04/18/2004, 18:30:56
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Claire, I see that Bob has restored the archives (Thanks!), so please read a message I posted three years ago, titled "Driving out Fear". It says all I have to say about the subject. Yes, we all have our fears, many with more than average justification. We are all here to drive them out. --- Lynn
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