Gayle Yarnall UNPLUGGED - More Things Blind People Hate
- I think we have gone over the edge with packaging. Most bottles
of things like vitamins are sealed at least three different ways. I mean each bottle
is sealed three different ways. I have no complaint about the box the bottle is in as
long as it is not shrink-wrapped. I don't mind the paper seal under the lid. I run into
trouble with those plastic bands that fasten the lid to the bottle. They have a nice
marking that indicates where to tear but if you can't see that marking well, then you
are in for some fun. First of all you have to make sure you are somewhere that you can't
be seen. Then you should wash off the top of the bottle because you are going to need
your teeth. Teeth work well for lifting that plastic on the lid up just enough to try
to get your fingernail under it to rip it. Of course the entire top part; the part of
the ring that is on the lid separates from the part that is on the side of the lid and
actually holding the lid on the bottle and now there is no place to grab with your teeth.
This is when you find a knife and stick it under the part that is left and try again.
After you get this evil piece of plastic completely off the bottle and open the lid you
find that you are still kept from the aspirin that you really need, at this point, by
that little seal. Never fear, you still have your knife
- Travel offers a vast variety of things to hate.
- Any blind person who has traveled alone will be able to tell you
at least three things they hate.
- How about when you stay in a hotel by yourself? You leave the
room with the curtain closed. When you return it is dark. You probably don't
need a light but you put one on anyway. You know you left that curtain closed
so you begin to get undressed. The maid has cleaned your room, they like open
curtains.
- Those lovely credit card type door keys are a lot of fun.
Some of these have little holes in them and you can remember how the little
holes are oriented when you insert the card into the lock. A lot of them
are totally smooth on both sides. You have four chances of getting it right.
For some reason I have never done it in less than three tries.
- I actually have a solution to this problem. Ask the person
at the front desk to cut one of the corners on the card. Be sure to have
him or her cut the corner that does not go into the lock.
- Have you ever noticed how all floors in a hotel look pretty
much alike? If you are blind you count landmarks. These could be lights, soda
machines, doors, or hall turns. More times than I can count I have landed at
the wrong room because I got off the elevator at the wrong floor. This is not
a big deal if the door you try to open by inserting the card about eight times
does not open. However when some one you don't know opens the door the fun
begins.
- I can't stand it when someone comes up to me in a crowd and says "guess
who this is?" Why do they think that we blind people can remember everyone's
voice and know who they are from just those four words. We have a special place in
our memory where we file away a mental recording of everyone we have ever met saying "guess
who this is". I always want to come back with some smart answer like "I know, you are
Daffy Duck".
- Here is a combination helpful hint and thing I hate. I know
everyone has left something in the refrigerator long enough that they completely forget
what is in the container. Now, if you can see you can gently open the lid, hold your
nose and peek in. If you are blind you have to really stick your nose in there and figure
out what it is. I store everything in old glass jars. If my husband is there he can look
through the glass. If I am alone and heaven help me, cleaning the refrigerator, I just
toss the jar without ever opening it. Clear Ziploc bags also work and then you can recycle
your glass jars. back to list
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