Tags
Beauty, Blindness, creation, hillside beach manitoba, humour, Moths and Butterflies, nature, Northern Crescent, Pearl Crescent, photography
Canadian Tiger Swallowtail on Day Lily – a little worse for wear
Pearl or Northern Crescent on Bishop’s Weed
Northern or Pearl Crescent
Northern or Pearl Crescent on White Aster
These butterfly photographs reminded me of Uncle Ted and Aunt May. They were Mum’s cousins. Ted was completely blind and May was legally blind but with partial sight. Ted was a character. We didn’t see them often but each time was a treat. He liked to play mind games with the sighted – especially the children.
I remember Ted and May coming to see us. They took the bus and then walked the half mile from the bus top. We knew to expect them so I was walking up the street to meet them. When they were still a way off Ted called out “Hello Rodney”. How did he do it?
Another time we were all, yes all, ‘watching’ television. I think it was Sunday Night at the London Palladium, a tediously boring program for a boy of eight. Goodness knows why we had it on when we had visitors. The show was at a point where a row of chorus girls (The Toppers?) did their dance routine across the stage, all long legs, sequins and synchronized kicking. Suddenly, Ted let out a huge wolf whistle and said “just look at those legs”. Ted had some imagination.
But the story I want to tell is the time Ted was riding the bus home. It became very foggy. Another pea-souper. The bus driver drove slower and slower. Finally he stopped the bus and said “Sorry everyone, the fog’s just too thick. I can’t see enough to find the way, you all have to get off and walk from here”.
Cue the Lone Ranger music: Ted stood up and said “Stay put, I can lead you. It doesn’t matter to me if it’s foggy”. With that, Ted walked in front of the bus with his white cane, and led the bus all the way to the bus depot.
Reflections in Puddles 
Beautiful story. I love people who are able to adapt to what life throws at them and keep their sense of humor and stay engaged in life to its fullest. I have never guided a bus to the station. 🙂
Thanks Pat: some people inspire! Is bus guiding on your list of things to do?
🙂
Well I will remember that story if I ever go blind!
Lovely pictures, great story
I think the long legged chorus ladies were called the Tiller Girls
Great story, Rod. Having a sense of humor makes so much of life’s difficulty easier to bear. Why not enjoy yourself? Seems like the best way forward for us all.
Thanks for the comment Steve. I can’t imagine life without humour, it was great to be shown the way by people like Ted.
Your Uncle Ted sounds like a winner. He was obviously a very clever man with a cracking sense of humour and I bet you adored him. Lovely pictures of the butterflies Rod, these are great. Sunday Night at the Palladium eh? Gosh, that brings me back! 🙂
Thanks Lottie: Remember the fellow who used to start spinning plates on bamboo poles and by the end of his act was racing backwards and forwards across the stage keep them all going? I liked the magicians and ventriloquists best.
We have had a great influx of these butterflies this year – but it has been frustrating getting the shots I really want. These are ok.
I LOVE your Uncle Ted, Rod! When my brother and I were young and trying something new–like volunteering to use the lawn mower for the first time to earn extra money–my dad would say, “Oh, yeah, the blind leading the blind.” When I think of your uncle (and especially when he “lead” the bus in the fog) I now consider my dad’s comments a compliment.
Excellent post!
Glad you liked it Marylin: Ted certainly redefined what it means to be blind for me.
Uncle Ted sounds as if he had some sort of magical guiding hand. But I’ve read that the blind possess instincts that sighted people are lacking. I really liked this story. You have a treasure trove of experiences that you can write about and each one of these stories is so special. All of them are entertaining.
Thanks Yvonne: it’s strange what triggers our memories and how one memory leads to another. I’m glad you find the stories entertaining – they may well be the first time you hear (read them). My poor family has had to listen to these stories many times over the years. Now they get to read about them too, how lucky can they get?
I’d say that your family is “doubly blessed.” 🙂
Ha ha, probably not what they would say! 🙂
Others have said it all already. Love the butterfly shots but uncle Ted is the winner by a foggy mile.
Thanks Andrew. Ted would be enjoying the admiration but wondering what all the fuss is about.
I must have been blind when I composed two of the shots. Looks like someone left a fried egg in the picture.