Today I pretended I was blind, just to see if I could do it. While I didn't manage for any admirable length of time, I thought some interesting thoughts during the 5 minutes I lasted...
The first thing that came to mind was about what I would wear. Is that vain? If I was blind, I would theoretically receive no pleasure from clothing aside from comfort. But would I still care about style? Would I care for me, or would it just be vanity? "Oh there goes that blind girl in the pink sweatpants and flannel shirt again," people would comment as I passed, oblivious to my heightened audio senses.
I imagined taking my fiance to a class of some sort so he could learn about make-up, and I would have him put make up on for me. Just so I wouldn't have to wonder whether my skin was dull or my eyes tired. He'd do it for a while, but would it get old? Or would he have undying patience and care? The kind of patience that would make me write a book about him when are old.
How independent would I be? Would I rise to the occasion, becoming street smart and savvy? Or become despondent and dependent. Shudder! What would happen when a solicitor came to the door? Or I had to take a taxi from the house. Would I trust strangers? Or be skeptical, suspicious, even paranoid?
What would my new hobbies be? How long would it take to read things! Is braille faster than eye reading? Ahhh! What do blind people do for internet? How many websites can be translated into voice?! And what about all the pictures??! Goodbye photography, and design and painting and sketching. What would I take up in their place?
Life's an adventure.
