Understanding the total eclipse from a blind perspective.

Understanding the total eclipse from a blind perspective.
by Peter Nikolantonakis

At some point in our lives. We will experience some life situations that will touch our lives. Some of these life changing events might be as follows. 1. A death of a loved one. 2. Someone getting married. 3. Seeing your children receive a university degree. 4. Lastly. Seeing your son or daughter have a brand newborn child. As you can imagine. The list could be much longer and I will only give you the examples I have given in this one blog post.
Now, that I have said all of this. Please allow me a moment to continue with my personal thought process. If anyone was listening to the north american media in the past few weeks. The world was waiting to see the total eclipse. You could not escape it if you opened your radio, television, newspaper or any other media source. Yet, like a drum. It was repeated over and over again on a 24 hourly basis and we could hear it ringing in our ears. I too was caught up in the hype and wanted to know more about it. Yet, here was the issue I faced. How could I take in this one life changing moment if I did not have my personal eyesight? This was the question that really troubled my mind. Yet, like most of us. I wanted to be a part of history and didn’t want to miss out on this historic event.
So, you might ask yourself this one question. How did “Peter” take in this one life changing event? I sat inside my livingroom and listened to it on my radio. Yes! I could have gone outside and listened to it with many other people. I could have gone to my local park and asked around. Yet, to be very honest with you. I was afraid this one life changing event could damage my eyes more than they are at their current state. Yet, I could not let this one event go through my hands. I heard quite a few descriptions from a few radio broadcastors. They described the total eclipse in very glowing terms. So, in the end. This one act had to do its job. I had not gone out to buy those sunglassess. So, I had no other choice and did my best to take it all in. Still. Now, that I have said all of this. I must have asked at least five people I know to give me a play by play. I took in all of their storylines and tried to form a picture in my mind. Okay! The picture they painted me was not a hollywood script. Yet, here was the question I faced. I could not look at my television set and form my very personal opinion. I had to rely on others interpretations.
Now, that I have said all of this. I did feel one thing very clearly. Of course, that being. The moment when the moon filled all of the sun. I was sitting on my balcony with my head bowed down and I felt the temperture drop. Personally. I thought this one event was totally out of this world. I hope the same impression was felt by other people watching it everywhere. Still. This one event made us feel the following. Just how small the human species is in our universe. If we examine the vastness of outer space. The planet earth is a wonder and is so precious. Yet, sadly. We don’t take the time to ponder these finer points in our personal existence. I hope from this moment on. We will be more aware of these points and so many others. We will start to look at our planet in a very different way and the way we live our lives on a daily basis.

PS. One more thing. I hope all of my readers will have a very cherished orthodox easter holiday. I hope that you will make very special and lasting memories. At the same time. I hope this one holiday will really mean something to you at the end of the day.

certain things a blind person must always remember. 20/3/2024.

Certain things a blind person must always remember.
by Peter Nikolantonakis

It is true we live in a very fast paced society. Everyday we must do certain things that we cannot escape. Things like. 1. Taking out the trash. 2. Taking out the recycling bin. 3. Taking out the dog for a walk and so many other tasks. Yet, here is the thing. If a person is undergoing some form of blindness. He or she must remember these very basic things. If we don’t do them. We might end up losing our minds in the process. Not to mention the following. If for some reason we don’t do these things. Our personal existence will suffer along the way.
At this point in my blog. Please allow me to explain. Okay! If a person who is reading this one blog from me is fully sighted. These very simple rules will apply to you just like blind individuals. Yet, here is the reality we will face. At this point I will give you a few examples. I hope you will really consider them and they will apply for non sighted persons in our society. 1. Be sure to place your keys somewhere you can find them all of the time. If you happen to be fully sighted. This one example will not have the same impact like being blind. We can’t look at our kitchen table and spot them like a fully sighted person. I am sure I don’t have to explain any further. 2. We should know where are gloves are at all times of the day. In the wintertime it so critical to know where they are. Early on in my blindness. I would turn my home upside down to find them and in some instances. I left my home without any gloves. 3. It is very inportant to know where your shoes or winter boots will be. Here once more. I faced a situation where I turned my home upside down to find them. The moment I could not find them. I would start to really panic and go nuts. I am sure this one example would apply for sighted people. 4. Not knowing where your winter hat might be. Here too I had to face this one issue. I too would look all over my home to find this one item. In some cases. I would go nuts in trying to track them down. 5. Not knowing where certain cards were. For example. I could not find my public transportation card. Then, in a very real instant. Once again, I would lose my mind in trying to find it. Plus. In some other instances. There are other personal cards that might apply in this one category. I will not give you a list of cards. Why? If I did. I would need many more pages to write them down. 6. Trying to find very specific photocopied pages to give to a friend. Then, in that one instant. Once again. My heart rate would go up and I would start to go crazy. 7. Lastly. Trying to find a tiny candy to soothe your throat during the wintertime. Here in this one instant. I would look all over my home and I would leave without any mints or some other similar item.
In closing. As blind individuals we will face many challenges. These challenges might seem small to others in our society. Yet, on a very real individual basis. They can mean so much to us and our daily reality. Yet, we must always remember where we will put very inportant items and where they might be found. Of course, this one reality will apply for other people that have their sight. Yet, for individuals who are facing blindness or will undergo this life altering situation. We will have to learn other ways to track down these things and how they might affect us for the rest of our lives.

The various elements of the winter season from a visual and blind perspective. 29/1/2024.

The various elements of the winter season from a visual and blind perspective.
by Peter Nikolantonakis

The winter season is such a beautiful time of the year. Yes! Every element of the season can be so special and it can leave a imprint on our hearts. Not to mention the following. The sights and sounds it can leave can be so memorable and it can make us want more of this one time. This is the power of this one season and how it can affect us on a very individual basis.
Now, try to imagine this one scene. In the very recent time. Your eye doctor has told you that you will be going blind or you might lose a percentage of your personal eyesight. This piece of news can really shake you up and that of your personal world. Here are some questions you might have to face. 1. How will I be able to experience the wonders of the winter season? 2. Will I be able to remember what the winter season looked like from a visual perspective? 3. Will I be able to remember all of the good times I had with my family and those precious images I took part in? 4. Will my image of this one season change in a very drastic way? 5. Will this one season have the same meaning to me like it did in the past? These and other questions can really shake you to your core. Not to mention the following. If you are facing the prospect of vision loss and blindness. I have no doubt that you will have to face these and other questions in your walk as a blind person. Yet, I am here to tell you one thing. Not everything will be lost. You can enjoy this one season from a totally different viewpoint.
Please allow me a moment to expand my thought process. I will only give you a very partial list of things you might expect. A. Have you taken a moment to hear what freezing rain sounds like? If not, please try to experience this one event. I have no doubt it will change your life. B. Have you ever listened how freezing rain sounds like when it hits your car roof or your winter coat? If the question is a very big no. You have not experienced the wonder of this one season. These sounds can really enrich your life. C. Have you spread out your hand to feel the hardness of freezing rain on your fence or your balcony? If no! Please try to tell me this. What are you waiting for? These examples I have given you are the stuff that makes this one season so special. Okay! It would be much nicer if you were laying down on a sandy beach somewhere down south. Unfortunately, not all of us can take a plane ride to warmer climates. Still. Now that I have said all of this. The winter season can offer so many sights and sounds for us to take in. I just hope that you didn’t let them go by. Why? If this was the case. Then, you have not experienced the real beauty of this one time of the year.
In closing. I would like for you to do one thing. Please spread your ears open. Take a walk outside and experience the wonder of this one season. Take a deep breath and feel the cool air in your lungs. Please feel the cold snow on your sleeve and the way it forms on your hood. Not to mention the following. Please enjoy the way freezing rain feels aginst the fabric of your winter coat. Why? If you only took one second. I have no doubt that you would experience this one season from a totally new light. Now, is the time to do so and live your life in a very unique way. Let’s try to make up for lost time and really enjoy winter like it was meant to be.

the incredible power of one single photograph. 13/12.2023.

The incredible power of one single photograph.
by Peter Nikolantonakis

There are many truths in our world. These truths might not be discussed everyday of our lives. Yet, for many of us. If the topic was to come up at some point in the day. In most instances. We cannot dispute its power in our personal lives.
One such a topic is the power of one single photograph. In the current world we live in. We live with so much visual points of view. If you don’t believe me. Take a look all around you. There are countless magazines, newspapers, web sites, DVD’s, movies and hundreds of television shows on the tube. These inventions can only mean one thing. Our eyes are working overtime and we have to experience our world through our eyes. This one reality can’t be disputed in the current world we live in. Yet, try to imagine this alternative reality. In your personal lifetime you are faced with one reality. You have lost your eyesight or in the process of losing it. There are many citizens of canada and the united states facing such a prospect. Yet, as we all know. Our lives must go on and we have to find another way to see our world. This is something I have come to deal with on a daily basis. Now, that I have said all of this. Please allow me a moment to continue.
Recently I was home spending some precious time with my beloved mother. We were both sitting inside our livingroom. We were both shareing a cup of coffee. At the same time. My mother was going through some old photo album. Personally. I wanted to be somewhere else. Yet, the winter season does not give me an opportunity to take a very long walk. So as you can imagine. I had to sit on my sofa and listen to her telling me about old photographs. I must tell you the truth. It was a very difficult experience for me. I had to sit there and I was on the verge of crying. Why? In the past before I lost my eyesight. I used to be a very good photographer. Okay! I never won some international prize or had my photos put inside some gallery. Yet, I really tried to put on a smile and tried my best to go on. Still. At some point during this one experience. I just wanted to say one thing. Please. Please. Please. Stop telling me about these very precious photographs. Yet, at the end of the day. I could not do such a thing to a beloved parent. So I just took in the old memories I had experienced in my past life.
In closing. We are living in a very visual oriented world. Everyday countless images are produced in our society and we must try to take it all in. Yet, if you faced a prospect of not having your personal eyesight. A photograph can be something to be avoided. In some instances. A blind person will always try to avoid such a situation. Yet, living in canada in the winter season. I can’t put on my coat and boots to avoid such a situation. I had to sit there and take in her descriptions. I know this might sound like a very trivial topic for most of you. Yet, for a blind individual this one topic can really hurt you in a very emotional way. I just hope such a situation has not happenned to you. If for whatever reason it has. I hope you will find the inner strength not to get ready to cry.

PS. One more thing. In a few short days. Our world will celebrate the wonder of the christmas holiday season. My hope for you is this. You and your families will have a very special and treasured christmas holiday season. I hope the memories you will make will last a whole lifetime. Merry christmas and a very cherished new year.

Another yearly anniversary has arrived. 10/11/2023.

Another yearly anniversary has arrived.
by Peter Nikolantonakis

The first time I wrote my first blog post. I really thought this whole process would last for a little while. I really believe I would be at it for one or two years. After that time was over. I thought to myself I would walk into the sunset and that would be it for me. Still. Fast forward a few years later and a few more months. I can’t believe that so many years have come and gone. If someone would have told me this back then. I would have told them they were crazy. Yet, it just goes to show I didn’t know that much.
Now, we have arrived at the year 2023 and we are headed to the year 2024. I never thought that I would have reached this one stage. Yet, if I were to go back and look at my past blog posts. This isn’t a dream for me. Still. I must say one thing. I feel humbled and very honored to have reached such a point as a blogger. It is not so easy to do such a thing. It requires quite a lot of time and commitment. Not to mention the following. To try to keep such a blog fresh and very relevant. I must say I have tried to live up to such high standards. I have felt a very big privilege to do such a task and I hope to do it a little while longer.
Still. I must say one thing. At some point down the line. I will have to head in a different direction. To be very honest with you. I really don’t know what that direction will be. Yet, I hope and pray that I will get some direction from above. Yet, at the end of the day. It has been a very great privilege to have done it. Still. I really hope that I can keep this blog true to my personal experiences and that of others facing this very real reality. Yet, at various points during the many years. This one blog has started to weigh on my shoulders. On many days. I find it very difficult on what to write about. Yet, with the help of a higher power. I continue to do this one task.
In closing. I really would like to thank you for the very kind words you have sent me. Your very encouraging words and e mails have given me strength to go on. Yet, I must say this one thing. I will try to go on for one more year. Yet, at the end of the day. I really don’t know how long I will keep it up. At some point. I will write my last blog post and head off into the sunset. To be very honest with you. I really don’t know when that day will be. Yet, I will keep at it for a little while longer and do my best to keep you all informed. Until that day comes. I will continue to go on my journey and try to do my best to hang in there for another year. Please continue to send me those e mails and words of encouragement. You will never know just how much they mean to me.

The incredible gifts of the fall season. 29/10/2023

The incredible gifts of the fall season
by Peter Nikolantonakis

Every season has its very own unique beauty. In those four seasons. We will experience so many different and precious moments. These moments will be etched in our minds and we will smile the moment we will recall them. In short. We will anxiously await to be a part of each and every season. This is the power of each and every season.
Now, that I have said all of this. Please allow me a moment to continue my personal thought process. As we all can understand. The summer season has left us and the fall season is here. Of this one fact there can be no doubt. The leaves have fallen from the trees and the colder nights have arrived with a very strong impact. Still. In the deepest part in our minds. We so long to have one more day of the summer season and we don’t look forward to wearing more clothes on our backs. Yet, no matter how long we try to not think about these things. The reality will continue to look us in the face and we will not be able to avoid it. We are starting to realize this picture is here to stay. We will have to wait for these very specific signs to come back in the year ahead.
Still. Even if the fall season is here. Not everything is lost for us. The fall can present us with certain food items that we look forward to happen once more. At this moment in time. I would like to paint you a very tiny picture. I would hope some of the examples I will give you will apply in your personal life.
Now, try to imagine this one scene. August, has left us and the month of september has just arrived. You and your family have just gotten in your very own personal car. Or better yet. You, your family and all of your friends have just rented an uncle sam bus. You drove about one hour and you have arrived at an apple orchard. In your hands you are carrying all types of apples. Not to mention the following. As you are walking in that apple orchard. You can feel your shoes getting wet and your pants are doing the same thing. Plus. As you are walking in the very large field. The aromas of the apples is filling your nose. Then, in a very quick instant. Your bag is starting to fill up and the bag is starting to get heavy. Isn’t this one scene truly breath taking? If I were to take a very wild guess. The overwhelming answer would have to be a very large yes. Still. As you are walking in this very large apple orchard. You can hear the crunching of the grass underneath your feet. All you can say to yourself is this. Wow! Isn’t this one day truly amazing? I am sure your answer would be a very massive yes.
Two. Another food item I look forward is those tiny chestnuts you can purchase from the grocery store. I would have to guess this one example would apply for many of you. Let’s be honest with each other. To buy them and place them in your oven. This is one scene that most of us look forward to doing. Just the smell that fills your kitchen is something out of this world. Not to mention the following. All of those memories you will create will last you and your family for one whole year. I would have to guess this one example will ring true for you and your family.
Three. Lastly. If you happen to be anything like me. You will most likely go to your local grocery store or a field to buy this one food item. Of course, I am referring to picking some corn. Just to be able to hold one corn stock in your hand is truly amazing. Just to feel the skin of the corn is truly breath taking. Just to get your knife to cut the many layers and place the final stock of corn in your bag is something truly out of this world. Then, to take the corn to your home and prepare it. This one memory is truly something to behold. Then, as you place the corn in your pot. That is something that can’t be measured. Then, the final step is close at hand. Spreading the butter on the corn is heaven sent. Could we ask for anything more. If I were to take a very wild guess. Once again, the answer to this one question would be an overwhelming yes.
In closing. I really like the summer season. Anyone that knows me would say this one thing. It is a very true statement. Yet, I can’t deny that the autumn season is here to stay. Still. This is the reason we must take advantage of getting out there. We have to go to the apple orchards and get our fill of these amazing apples. We have to get out there and buy some corn. Either if we buy it from our grocery store. Or better yet. We get in our cars and pick it from the very large corn fields. We should not let these moments go to waste. Now, is the time to get out there and create those very special memories. Don’t let the months slip through your hands. Why? Once the autumn is gone. We will have to wait one more year to create these timeless memories. Now is the time to act.

The lonely nights of the fall season.

Thursday september 28, 2023.

The lonely night of the fall season.
by Peter Nikolantonakis

Once again we witnessed the summer quickly fade from our minds. The time we experienced sitting outside our patio and having a cold glass of wine. Those splendid days came to a halt and now we are in the heart of the fall season. You will say the following. We will have to wait to be a part of the summer in one year’s time. Still. Not everything about the fall season is awful. Please allow me a moment to explain my thought process.
As the month of september came into our lives. We started to see the changes in our environment and that of our neighborhoods. We felt the cool air on our skin and we heard the leaves falling to the ground. Not to mention the following. The moment we took a long walk in our local neighborhood. We heard the leaves crunching underneath our feet. We also noticed one very unique thing. That of our parks slowly ending up being totally lonely. The large amounts of people sitting on the wooden benches. Those wonderful individuals started to stay inside their homes. The people laughing on the wooden tables. They left us only with a very big memory. Now, that the colder days have come into our lives. There are no elderly people sitting on the wooden benches and sipping their warm cups of coffee. All of those images I have painted for you. These images will have to wait to be experienced for another time.
Still. If you will allow me. Try to imagine these scenes without your personal sight. 1. You will not see the leaves laying on the ground. 2. You will not see the finches leaving your local neighborhood. 3. You will not see the canada geese leaving your neighborhood for warmer climates. 4. You will not see the young children playing a round of soccer or basketball. 5. You will not see the leaves changing colors. 6. You will not see the grass being so green unlike the warmer days we had. 7. You will not see young children taking walks with their parents. 8. You will not see people walking their dogs late into the night or the early morning. 9. You will not see young mothers walking their little ones and you will miss those little ones being taken to the swings. 10. Lastly. You will not see young children eating a cold ice cream sandwich in the early morning. As you can imagine. I could have painted a much more detailed list. Yet, I only chose to give you these very specific examples.
In closing. As human beings. It would seem these very specific signs seem to slip our minds. We don’t take a moment to admire the wonders of our local neighborhood parks. In a very sad way. We just zoom by with our cars or our very early walks and not notice these very wonderful changes. This is why it is so critical to take the time. I know I must sound like a broken record. Yet, now is the time to sit back and take notice. Please don’t allow this one opportunity to go by you. As we all know. The fall season is such a beautiful time and we must seize the moment. Try to take a extra second longer to admire the wonders of this one season. Try to feel the cold air on your skin and feel the cold air on our hands. Why? If we don’t do these very simple things. That one very precious second will have slipped through our hands and we will have left a great void in our very personal lives. Now, is the time to see the wonders of this one very specific season and treasure the moments.

Trying to do my best to get the message across.

Monday august 28, 2023.

Trying to do my best to get the message across.
by Peter Nikolantonakis

There is no doubt that we live in a very distracted society. Everyday we travel down the busy streets and highways across north maerica. The danger we face is very real on a daily basis. We will encounter countless cars, buses and so many difficult situations. You could say one thing. It is extremely difficult not to encounter them and do our best to deal with these realities. Yet, at the end of the day. We as blind individuals we must learn to deal with them and do our best to live our lives.
Still. How does someone like me get the message across. I have written about this one topic on countless occasions? I have tried to raise the alarm and tried to inform the greater public. I have tried to raise the awareness factor and the same continues to exist. I sometimes have to shake my head and really wonder at the behaviour of individual human beings. Do I have to walk around with a bullhorn to get my message acrossin which I live in. Do I have to have a big sign on my forehead to warn the people in which I live? Do I have to scream at the top of my lungs to raise the blind safety factor? In certain situations I really don’t know anymore. I have written about this one subject on many occasions. I have written about it in another ethnic newspaper and I still witness the same pattern. What else does someone like me have to do? I do realize that my personal struggle would be a very difficult one and I would have to face many obstacles. Yet, to have individuals run over my white cane and trip over it isn’t something I expected this far in my personal journey. I thought after so many years the message would have gotten out somehow. Yet, once again. I have to raise my voice once more and I wonder to myself the following. Are the people finally getting the message? There are many times and occcasions if it is getting through.
Please allow me to explain. A few days ago. I went to visit a relative at the hospital. As I was standing near the wall to board the subway train. One particular person literally ran over my white cane. Yet, I have to ask myself this one question. Are people so distracted that they don’t see in front of them. At this point in my life. I really don’t know anymore. What does someone have to do to get them to notice people like me? I sometimes really don’t know. Yet, here is the very inportant question. How do I deal with this one issue and continue to face the world? On certain days of the week I don’t know anymore. Yet, here is the strange thing. The same issue continues to persist. Is there some way that certain individuals will finally get the message. I cannot answer this one question at this point in my life as a blind person. Yet, here is my personal reality. It continues to happen quite often and I must try to do my best to raise the awareness factor. Yet, here is the issue I face. I have written about it on my blog and written columns in a certain paper. Yet, people’s behaviour hasn’t changed that much. Here is the question I face and that of others in the blind world. Is there some way to make them to open their eyes? On some days of the week I don’t know anymore. Can individuals start to see the light. I have to sit back and really wonder. Yet, here is the issue I face. I cannot stop and get locked inside my home. I have to get out there and experience our world. Yet, on some days I really have to wonder at people’s way of thinking.
In closing. My hope and wish is this. Starting in the fall. People will finally get the message and start to act the correct way when it comes to white canes. Yet, if I had to make a very large bet. I don’t believe this change will happen. I really believe that individuals will continue to act in the usual way. I would like to say one thing. I don’t believe that I am asking too much of my fellow human beings. It is a very simple thing not to run over my white cane and smash it on a very frequent basis. Yet, as the days continue to go on. I cannot see the trend changing. Still. I will continue to believe in the human spirit and will look forward in a minor change. My hope is this. If someone is reading this one blog post. Please. Please. Please. Please. Please. Now, is the time to restore my faith in the human race and make me feel safe throughout my daily life. Please stop running over my white cane and making me feel unsafe on the streets I walk on. Not to mention the following. I want to see the same thing for others like me on a daily basis. It would make my life that much better in the long run. Now is the time to witness that one change.

Getting the news of a pending case of blindness

Getting the news of a pending case of blindness.
by Peter Nikolantonakis Sunday July 30, 2023.

It is so true that we live in a world of visual images. Everyday we will encounter another image. That image could be the following. 1. A new web site. 2. A newspaper web site. 3. A video on the net. 4. A picture on a certain web page we will encounter on the net. 5. A movie clip we will see on youtube, facebook or some related site on the internet. I could give you a few more examples. Yet, I am almost certain you get the full picture and nothing more needs to be said.
Yet, try if you can imagine this one situation. A friend or family got the following news. That he or she will go blind in a few days, weeks, months or a few years down the line. How does someone prepare themselves for such terrible news? How do these individuals get themselves emotionally, mentally and spiritually ready? Let’s be completely honest with each other. There is no instructional booklet or textbook to point you the way. In a very real way. We have to learn to deal with this reality in a very individual way. At the same time. We will learn to deal with this one issue on our own. We can’t call a 1 800 hotline and they will give us a bigtime breakdown of the situation. Yet, here is the scary part. How does someone get themselves ready? This one question really troubled me at the time when I got my news. 1. My friends could not understand how to help me. 2. My parent didn’t know what to do with me. 3. My cousins and other close family members were completely shocked with my personal news. 4. I didn’t want to take part in the things that brought me joy in my life. I used to love to play soccer and basketball. I guess those two activities were out of the question. I also used to read books and magazines. I would have to relearn how to deal with these items. 4. How does someone learn to watch Tv? In my very own unique case. I just stopped watching all together. 5. How does someone watch over on the goings on in their community. I could not see what was going on in my local park. I could not see what was going on with the kids playing sports. At somepoint. I really didn’t want to be there hearing them play. 6. How would I know if I had wrinkles on my body and that of my face? Plus. How could I know what my cousins, family members and other close people would look like down the line? 7. How could someone who is blind learn to play sports. In my very own unique case. I never got into playing sports altogether. Why? I was afraid I might get hit by a ball on the side of my head. These questions could not be dealt in a few days or weeks. These questions would be a long term reality project for me. 8. What would a sunrise or sunset look like? I knew in my mind what that one picture looked like. Yet, as time went onward. I would wonder to myself and maybe worse. I would start to forget and start to ask my friends and other family members. These are very troubling questions to have inside your mind. 9. Would I start to pick up a new hobby? I am afraid to say this one thing. In my very personal case. I never picked one up.
In closing. I could have raised quite a few more questions in this one blog. Yet, here is one reality. Nothing like this is taught in our schools. It is not taught in our religious institutions. In some cases. Many individuals you used to think were a very strong part of your life. In a very strange way. They would start to avoid you and very slowly start to withdraw away from your life. Personally. I know this one thing has happenned to me in a very real way. At the same time. It is a huge struggle to face the psychological realities of this one issue. Yet, one thing is certain. We have to face these very real issues and move onwards with our lives. No one can face these issues for us. We must learn to face them head on and go on to the next stage.

The many things that I will miss as a blind individual

The many things I will miss as a blind individual.
by Peter Nikolantonakis

There is no doubt that we have witnessed the arrival of summer. This is the one season we truly long for and hope that it will not end anytime soo. We so look forward to going to the local neighborhood park and spending sometime with our families. We long to see the neighbors children playing soccer and running around on the splash pad. We also look forward to hearing the young children playing in the sandbox with their tiny plastic buckets. In some cases. You could say the following. These are the scenes that truly stand out as this season gets etched in our minds. This is the power that this one season can bring and the memories that can be formed on a yearly basis.
Yet, try to imagine this scene. In the past few weeks or months you have received some very uncomfortable news. Of course, this news would be as follows. That in a very short amount of time you will be entering a new area of your life. 1. You will not be able to witness another sunset or sunrise. 2. You will not be able to see your children’s faces anymore. 3. You will not be able to go for a very long drive in your city or town. 4. You will not be able to see the beauty of a federal or provincial park. 5. You will not be able to see your wife’s beautiful face and the birthmark on her back. 6. You will not be able to see your favorite movie on the big screen. At this point I would give you a very tiny list. Yet, I am very afraid that there would not be enough room. I will leave it up to your imagination. 7. You will not be able to read your favorite magazine on a weekly basis. Once again, I will not try to give you a list of magazines. I leave that part up to your imaginations. 8. You will not be able to use your favorite “SLR” camera. If you happen to have a very expensive camera in your personal possession. This is the question that will creep in your mind. How will I be able to use that photo camera that I love so much? This one question will really trouble you and your thoughts. I faced this one question and I really don’t want to think about it. 9. If I were to travel to a certain country. How will I be able to visualize a certain tourist landmark. This reality happenned to me when my cousin got married a few years ago. I really wanted to get a description of this one landmark. Yet, when my family members tried to paint me a picture. The image could not fit in my mind and it didn’t make that much sense to me. 10. Before I got the news that I would go blind. I used to love playing basketball and soccer. Why those two sports. The ball was of a bigger size and I could play the sport on a good level. Fast forward a few years later. I hear the people playing these two sports in my local park and it drives me crazy. Yet, I will not do the following. I will not walk up to them and ask them to join in. Why? If I did such a thing. I would be putting my health at risk.
In closing. There are so many things that I have missed in my personal life. I did attempt to paint you a very tiny picture of the things I have missed. Yet, at the end of the day. My picture I painted you was not completely detailed. If I were to try to paint a complete frame. I would need quite a lot of room and this blog post would go on for pages. Yet, as time has moved on. I have tried to learn one thing. Just how fragile these images can be and the situations can bring on so many emotions for me. If there was a way for me to go back in time. I would love so much to really use my photo camera one more time. I will admit one thing. I was not a world leading photographer. Yet, my pictures were quite good. Still. My hope is this. I hope that you will have a very nice summer and you will make some very precious memories.