My Day

Email to my mom the other night…thought I’d blog it for today’s journal:

 

I'm so tired tonight.  This morning, Pey and I rented a cement drill from Home Depot, and went to Trinkets to put up my silhouette stuff.  The wall is half cement, so I had to learn how to drill into it!  It was actually really fun!  You should stop by and see my new wall there, I think it looks really good.  Then we got the girls and dropped off Watch Me Draw Flyers at Selma schools.  Then Wal Mart for some food and dance clothing for Jordyn.  Then dance class and finally home at 6:25.  Then dinner, homework, bath and by 9:00 they were all in bed.  Tucker was home for like 15 minutes in between work and scouts.  And do you think I found time to do any reading for school?  Of course not.  That has been how every day feels lately.  And then there are two birthday parties this weekend for the kids.  I wish I could stay up as late and alert as I used to, but I am so done by 10, my brain could not read homework assignments by then.  This will be interesting adventure!

But when I am at school, I really love it. In fact, there are three blind guys in my classes!  So we did our practicing being the "traveler" (aka blind person) and Human Guide.  We take turns doing each with a partner.  Well, my partner both times were two of the blind guys!  So I got to lead an actual blind person, which was great.  But then a blind person led ME as a pretend blind person!  It was a bit scary.  This time we were only in a hallway.  But next week we will practice on stairs!  Luckily the blind people are very used to using their canes, etc, but still!  I got to listen to a guest lecture from an Opthomologist.  He was really cool.  During his presentaion, he mentioned that he was a "lay minister" as well as an opthomologist.  Well, not many religions use that term, so afterwards I asked him what church he was a minister for. Surprise surprise, he said "I'm a mormon".  He actually is in the Stake Presidency for the San Francisco stake.  Small world. 

At the end of his presentation, he said something that hit my core.  He said "you know, you are not just going to be Orientation and Mobility Specialist.  You aren't just going to help visually impaired people get around.  You are first going to be therapists, THEN Orientation & Mobility (O&Ms).  I can attest to that after 30+ years in this profession".  I loved that because I really feel that.  Tucker has asked me why I am choosing this as opposed to a Therapist as I've always talked about.  And I've told him that same thing before, that I really feel that I will still be doing therapy for families dealing with vision loss.  So when the Dr. said that, I felt really reaffirmed in my thoughts.

I am so nervous about doing this and the committment now that I see how much Tucker is gone.  But I also don't see any other option THAN to finish it.  I know it will be worth it.  Just not a small feat.

The drive there is never too bad.  It gets me in the mindset and out of my "life" so I can focus once I'm there.  The drive home is a bit harder.  I got home at 1:15 on Monday, so it really could be much worse.  I know in inclement weather I will take Shana up on her offer of staying there, but for now it feels easier to be back for the school morning for the girls.  Driving home on the Bay Bridge at 10:00 at night provides an awe-inspiring view.  The city line is all lit up and you can tell you are suspended on a 7 mile bridge above the bay.  It's really scary and incredible.