Editor’s Note: This is part of our ongoing series on Laughter is Often the Best Medicine, a series that encourages people who are blind or visually impaired to laugh at themselves and celebrate victories.
Dress Up Time
A friend was recently invited to hold a month long exhibit at one of the elite art museums in Tallahassee. Four of us decided to attend the opening night before heading to the beach for the weekend. This required dressing in something other than jeans and T-shirt. I chose a colorful, sort of artsy blouse and a pair of black pants. I wore red sandals to draw out the red in my blouse and grabbed my red earrings as I hurried out the front door of my home.
The four of us met for dinner at an artsy restaurant near the museum. At the proper time we headed up the old cracked sidewalks of the older part of the city toward the beautiful old house that now serves as the art museum. As we entered, we were greeted by several other friends and, of course, the artist, our friend Judy.
As my friend Debbie and I moved from room to room, Debbie described many pieces and even suggested that I finger some of them. (When you know the artist, you can touch the merchandise.) I oohed and aahed and marveled at Judy’s talent, all the while continuing to run into friends, Debbie’s parents, and lots of new acquaintances.
The “Pièce de Résistance”
At last, I happened upon a piece I could not resist—a beautiful blue vase called wings. It has the perfect colors and is just the right height for my mantel. It was calling my name. I hurried off to purchase it before one of the other people who were drooling over it could get to the cash register. Then the photographer (also a friend) said I needed my picture made with my new !purchase. I then decided I needed a picture with my Judy original and with Judy herself. Pictures were taken and soon we left to head to the beach.
Only At An Art Museum!
When we arrived at the beach house, of course, we all shed our dress-up clothes for jeans. That’s when I discovered I had on two totally different earrings and no one had said a word. Only at a modern art exhibit could you get away with wearing one square, shattered glass red earring and one black, double heart earring made from lava!
Teachable Moment
How could I have avoided this snafu? Well, by employing my own methods as a vision rehabilitation therapist! The most basic thing I could have done is to have touched the entire earring instead of just the wire that goes into my ear! If I had been wearing earrings that are less distinctive, marking matching earrings with braille and putting them in a separate compartment in my jewelry case or in a plastic bag is an excellent option. People with low vision can also use large print labels. And the list goes on. Find more in labeling and marking household items.