The
passengers on the bus watched sympathetically as the attractive young woman
with the white cane made her way carefully up the steps. She paid the driver
and, using her hands to feel the location of the seats, walked down the aisle
and found the seat he'd told her was empty. Then she settled in, placed her
briefcase on her lap and rested her cane against her leg.
passengers on the bus watched sympathetically as the attractive young woman
with the white cane made her way carefully up the steps. She paid the driver
and, using her hands to feel the location of the seats, walked down the aisle
and found the seat he'd told her was empty. Then she settled in, placed her
briefcase on her lap and rested her cane against her leg.
It had
been a year since Susan, 34, became blind. Due to a medical misdiagnosis she
had been rendered sightless, and she was suddenly thrown into a world of
darkness, anger, frustration and self-pity. And all she had to cling to was her
husband, Mark.
been a year since Susan, 34, became blind. Due to a medical misdiagnosis she
had been rendered sightless, and she was suddenly thrown into a world of
darkness, anger, frustration and self-pity. And all she had to cling to was her
husband, Mark.
Mark was
an Air Force officer and he loved Susan with all his heart. When she first lost
her sight, he watched her sink into despair and was determined to help his wife
gain the strength and confidence she needed to become independent again.
an Air Force officer and he loved Susan with all his heart. When she first lost
her sight, he watched her sink into despair and was determined to help his wife
gain the strength and confidence she needed to become independent again.
Finally,
Susan felt ready to return to her job, but how would she get there? She used to
take the bus, but was now too frightened to get around the city by herself.
Mark volunteered to drive her to work each day, even though they worked at
opposite ends of the city. At first, this comforted Susan, and fulfilled Mark's
need to protect his sightless wife who was so insecure about performing the
slightest task.
Susan felt ready to return to her job, but how would she get there? She used to
take the bus, but was now too frightened to get around the city by herself.
Mark volunteered to drive her to work each day, even though they worked at
opposite ends of the city. At first, this comforted Susan, and fulfilled Mark's
need to protect his sightless wife who was so insecure about performing the
slightest task.
Soon,
however, Mark realized the arrangement wasn't working. Susan is going to have
to start taking the bus again, he admitted to himself. But she was still so
fragile, so angry - how would she react? Just as he predicted, Susan was
horrified at the idea of taking the bus again.
however, Mark realized the arrangement wasn't working. Susan is going to have
to start taking the bus again, he admitted to himself. But she was still so
fragile, so angry - how would she react? Just as he predicted, Susan was
horrified at the idea of taking the bus again.
"I'm
blind!", she responded bitterly. "How am I supposed to know where I
am going? I feel like you're abandoning me."
blind!", she responded bitterly. "How am I supposed to know where I
am going? I feel like you're abandoning me."
Mark's
heart broke to hear these words, but he knew what had to be done. He promised
Susan that each morning and evening he would ride the bus with her, for as long
as it took, until she got the hang of it. And that is exactly what happened.
For two solid weeks, Mark, military uniform and all, accompanied Susan to and
from work each day.
heart broke to hear these words, but he knew what had to be done. He promised
Susan that each morning and evening he would ride the bus with her, for as long
as it took, until she got the hang of it. And that is exactly what happened.
For two solid weeks, Mark, military uniform and all, accompanied Susan to and
from work each day.
He taught
her how to rely on her other senses, specifically her hearing, to determine
where she was and how to adapt to her new environment. He helped her befriend
the bus drivers who could watch out for her, and save her a seat.
her how to rely on her other senses, specifically her hearing, to determine
where she was and how to adapt to her new environment. He helped her befriend
the bus drivers who could watch out for her, and save her a seat.
Finally,
Susan decided that she was ready to try the trip on her own. Monday morning
arrived, and before she left, she threw her arms around Mark, her temporary
bus-riding companion, her husband, and her best friend. Her eyes filled with
tears of gratitude for his loyalty, his patience, And his love. She said
good-bye, and for the first time, they went their separate ways. Monday,
Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday... Each day on her own went perfectly, and Susan
had never felt better. She was doing it! She was going to work all by herself.
Susan decided that she was ready to try the trip on her own. Monday morning
arrived, and before she left, she threw her arms around Mark, her temporary
bus-riding companion, her husband, and her best friend. Her eyes filled with
tears of gratitude for his loyalty, his patience, And his love. She said
good-bye, and for the first time, they went their separate ways. Monday,
Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday... Each day on her own went perfectly, and Susan
had never felt better. She was doing it! She was going to work all by herself.
On Friday
morning, Susan took the bus to work as usual. As she was paying the fare to
exit the bus, the driver said, "Boy, I sure do envy you." Susan
wasn't sure if the driver was speaking to her or not. After all, who on earth
would ever envy a blind woman who had struggled just to find the courage to
live for the past year? Curious, she asked the driver, "Why do you say
that you envy me?"
morning, Susan took the bus to work as usual. As she was paying the fare to
exit the bus, the driver said, "Boy, I sure do envy you." Susan
wasn't sure if the driver was speaking to her or not. After all, who on earth
would ever envy a blind woman who had struggled just to find the courage to
live for the past year? Curious, she asked the driver, "Why do you say
that you envy me?"
The driver
responded, "It must feel good to be taken care of and protected like you
are." Susan had no idea what the driver was talking about, and again
asked, "What do you mean?"
responded, "It must feel good to be taken care of and protected like you
are." Susan had no idea what the driver was talking about, and again
asked, "What do you mean?"
The driver
answered, "You know, every morning for the past week, a fine-looking
gentleman in a military uniform has been standing across the corner watching
you as you get off the bus. He makes sure you cross the street safely and he
watches until you enter your office building.
answered, "You know, every morning for the past week, a fine-looking
gentleman in a military uniform has been standing across the corner watching
you as you get off the bus. He makes sure you cross the street safely and he
watches until you enter your office building.
Then he
blows you a kiss, gives you a little salute and walks away. You are one lucky
lady." Tears of happiness poured down Susan's cheeks. For although she
couldn't physically see him, she had always felt Mark's presence. She was
lucky, so lucky, for he had given her a gift more powerful than sight, a gift
she didn't need to see to believe - the gift of love that can bring light where
there is darkness.
blows you a kiss, gives you a little salute and walks away. You are one lucky
lady." Tears of happiness poured down Susan's cheeks. For although she
couldn't physically see him, she had always felt Mark's presence. She was
lucky, so lucky, for he had given her a gift more powerful than sight, a gift
she didn't need to see to believe - the gift of love that can bring light where
there is darkness.
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