Memories forever: My childhood summer holidays

Many may say that memories of one's childhood summer holidays would probably fall into the ordinary category but I would say that they fell into the extra special category.  You see, these are memories of holidays spent with family and dogs.  Memories that were created when I had very limited vision but at the same time they were memories created with lots of time to allow my imagination to wonder, roam, and grow.

Ah, yes!  being able to think and create stories in my head as I lay there at night listening to the waves break upon the sandy shore.  Being able to actually memorize some of them as I tossed and turned, the crickets sang and the dogs walked back and forth along the floor of our beach house and all this just before sleep grabbed a hold of me.

Being able to plan exciting mysteries in my head while the mosquitoes buzzed and the fresh sea breeze wafted freely through a quiet house.

Being able to create sand castles and mountains on the sandy beach, construct pools of all shapes and sizes, dig for clams, and enjoy the surf and warm Caribbean water while thinking about what I wanted to be when I grew up.

Being able to simply sit there and allow myself to be just another child among my brothers and cousins while they read to me, played marbles with me, and then we would go out and play all kinds of games such as hide and seek, cricket, football, and then the lagoon activities.

Ah, yes!  Those cherished memories of my childhood summer holidays.

I'm Donna J. Jodhan, your friendly accessibility advocate, wishing you a terrific day. 

If you would like to learn more about me as an author then I invite you now to visit
http://www.donnajodhan.com

There you will not only learn about me as an author but you will also gain insights into my campaign against bullying and why I strongly believe that you need to consider joining me in order to insure that the future of our kids with their wide-eyed smiles and infectious laughter is secured forever.

And now my weekly podcast!
From recipes to apps, and 5 minute mysteries to tips for entrepreneurs and scam alerts!
www.takeanother5.com
And available for download from iTunes and Google music play

Follow me on Twitter @accessibleworld and at author_jodhan
And like me on Facebook at
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With much gratitude: Now I can really appreciate

I really do not know that many people who have had the privilege to be born with very limited vision, to get a whole amount of it as a teen, and then to lose it as an adult about 25 years later.  That's me, and this is probably what has enabled me to appreciate things so much more.

For me, I have had the opportunity to live in both worlds, so to speak.  I know what it is like to really appreciate very limited vision.  I know what it is like to savor and enjoy so many things with so much vision, and now I know what it is like to be plunged back into a world with almost complete darkness.

I am not saying that along the way things have been easy.  I have had to endure several bumps and roadblocks, but at the same time I have had the pleasure and privilege of enjoying so many things.

I do not think that I could ever fully describe how I felt when I received new vision for the first time but what I can say is that it all enabled me to appreciate things that so many others would normally take for granted. Then the feelings I experienced when I lost almost all of it in 2004.

Now I can really appreciate so much more.

I'm Donna J. Jodhan, your friendly accessibility advocate, wishing you a terrific day. 

If you would like to learn more about me as an author then I invite you now to visit
http://www.donnajodhan.com

There you will not only learn about me as an author but you will also gain insights into my campaign against bullying and why I strongly believe that you need to consider joining me in order to insure that the future of our kids with their wide-eyed smiles and infectious laughter is secured forever.

And now my weekly podcast!
From recipes to apps, and 5 minute mysteries to tips for entrepreneurs and scam alerts!
www.takeanother5.com
And available for download from iTunes and Google music play

Follow me on Twitter @accessibleworld and at author_jodhan
And like me on Facebook at
www.facebook.com/donnajodhan and at www.facebook.com/authordonnajodhan

My precious dogs! Each dog had their habits

I am never tired of talking about my precious dogs and oh how I loved each in their own way.  They were my childhood friends and I am very sure that they each knew that I was visually impaired.

Let's start with Yella, the matriarch of our dog family and a fat and sometimes friendly and sometimes not so friendly lady Lab!  She knew that I was vision impaired because each time I came a bit too close to her she would move softly out of my way.  Yella loved her privacy.

She had her favorite foods: green pea soup, chicken Palau, and oh yes! Coconut jelly and boiled chicken.  She had a sweet tooth as well.  Yella enjoyed her regular baths, but most of all!  She would only play with you on her time and whenever she chose to do so.  Dad was her favorite family
member.

Then there was Tiger!  Fiercely loyal especially so to my mom and he was always ready for adventure and excitement.  Tiger was a huge and muscular Lab who also knew that I was visually impaired because he was always there to try and lead me at times.  He was not afraid to stand up for the family, loved the sea, and enjoyed chasing the birds and any cat that dared to come his way.

Tiger loved most foods and meal time was where he drew the line.  He was very protective of his food.  He, too, loved coconut jelly and all kinds of meat.  Tiger was a dog for all times!  He never flinched from his regular baths and was always up for anything that came his way.

Then there was lion; nothing further than being a lion!  A gentle soul with a playful and friendly personality to his family.  He was loving and always ready to play but on the other hand he, too, liked to be alone.  Lion and Tiger were brothers from the same litter, Yella's two sons.

Lion was loyal to all but when it came to stepping forward he would often be standing at the back of the pack barking more loudly then the others.  He was afraid of thunder.  He, too, loved his food and everything seemed to be his favorite dish.  Lion liked to sleep in cool places, enjoyed his regular
baths like the others, and loved to sniff the fresh air on cool mornings and evenings on our patio.

I could write so much more but I'll stop here for now because I think that you have the picture by now.

I'm Donna J. Jodhan, your friendly accessibility advocate, wishing you a terrific day. 

If you would like to learn more about me as an author then I invite you now to visit
http://www.donnajodhan.com

There you will not only learn about me as an author but you will also gain insights into my campaign against bullying and why I strongly believe that you need to consider joining me in order to insure that the future of our kids with their wide-eyed smiles and infectious laughter is secured forever.

And now my weekly podcast!
From recipes to apps, and 5 minute mysteries to tips for entrepreneurs and scam alerts!
www.takeanother5.com
And available for download from iTunes and Google music play

Follow me on Twitter @accessibleworld and at author_jodhan
And like me on Facebook at
www.facebook.com/donnajodhan and at www.facebook.com/authordonnajodhan

So many years ago: Remembering my favorite wash basin

You may be asking then, so what's so special about any wash basin?  And here is my answer, for what it is worth.

It was a lovely green color, very large, and just the right size for me to play in with my boats.  I simply loved this wash basin that was in our family's bathroom.

On so many quiet days when the family was otherwise occupied with other activities, I would fill my favorite wash basin with water and then I would put my little boats into the water.  Then I would stand there and simply play with them.

My imagination would simply take me to so many places: to different countries, to a peaceful river, to the deep blue sea, and even to a lagoon void of ripples.

I would sail my little boats, have boat races, and then I would make waves in the water to rock the boats.  The larger ones often withstood the waves but the poor little ones often sank to the bottom.

Oh, how I loved it all.  No one ever really interrupted my time with my boats and if ever they peaked in on me, I would never know.  My times with my boats in my favorite wash basin were priceless memories and always will be.

I'm Donna J. Jodhan, your friendly accessibility advocate, wishing you a terrific day. 

If you would like to learn more about me as an author then I invite you now to visit
http://www.donnajodhan.com

There you will not only learn about me as an author but you will also gain insights into my campaign against bullying and why I strongly believe that you need to consider joining me in order to insure that the future of our kids with their wide-eyed smiles and infectious laughter is secured forever.

And now my weekly podcast!
From recipes to apps, and 5 minute mysteries to tips for entrepreneurs and scam alerts!
www.takeanother5.com
And available for download from iTunes and Google music play

Follow me on Twitter @accessibleworld and at author_jodhan
And like me on Facebook at
www.facebook.com/donnajodhan and at www.facebook.com/authordonnajodhan

Just another challenge: When Diane had to reshape my hair

This is one of the drawbacks for me as a blind person.  Yes, I can certainly tell when my hairdresser has not cut my hair the way that I would like but I can only do so after the deed has been done.

I can feel what has been done but only after the fact.

I cannot see in the mirror as she is doing it so I am unable to stop her and this is exactly what happened some months ago.  My regular hairdresser had made a huge faux pas and Diane, who is my mom's hairdresser, had to step in and fix it up.

Of course, what I had suspected had been confirmed by my mom and I was not a very happy camper but Mom to the rescue, as they say!  She patiently helped me to deal with it, combing my hair in a way that helped to cover up the faux pas.

I'm Donna J. Jodhan, your friendly accessibility advocate, wishing you a terrific day. 

If you would like to learn more about me as an author then I invite you now to visit
http://www.donnajodhan.com

There you will not only learn about me as an author but you will also gain insights into my campaign against bullying and why I strongly believe that you need to consider joining me in order to insure that the future of our kids with their wide-eyed smiles and infectious laughter is secured forever.

And now my weekly podcast!
From recipes to apps, and 5 minute mysteries to tips for entrepreneurs and scam alerts!
www.takeanother5.com
And available for download from iTunes and Google music play

Follow me on Twitter @accessibleworld and at author_jodhan
And like me on Facebook at
www.facebook.com/donnajodhan and at www.facebook.com/authordonnajodhan

A cherished memory: Remembering Peter and the goat

This is one of my most favorite and cherished childhood memories.  Memories that I shall forever keep close to me.

They were special because they were so simple and they were special because Peter himself was one of the kindest and gentlest of persons.  As I write this I can still hear his soft voice explaining all kinds of things to me as I stood there playing with our goat.

I was but a child then, about six or seven, and Peter could have been old enough to be my grandpa.  He told me so many things about our goat: what she loved to eat, play with, and what she liked to do.

Then, as I stood there on so many occasions, he would teach me about mother nature and the beautiful things around me.  He told me about the trees, flowers, the moon and the stars.  He was patient and answered all of my many questions, never hesitating to do so.

I never had a grandpa so Peter was the closest thing to this.  Then there was his dog who he named See for Me!  A quiet dog, very similar in temperament to Peter.  So many wonderful times were spent with Peter, the goat, and his dog.

Thank you, Peter, for having come into my life and for having treated me not as a blind child, but just another curious kid!

I'm Donna J. Jodhan, your friendly accessibility advocate, wishing you a terrific day. 

If you would like to learn more about me as an author then I invite you now to visit
http://www.donnajodhan.com

There you will not only learn about me as an author but you will also gain insights into my campaign against bullying and why I strongly believe that you need to consider joining me in order to insure that the future of our kids with their wide-eyed smiles and infectious laughter is secured forever.

And now my weekly podcast!
From recipes to apps, and 5 minute mysteries to tips for entrepreneurs and scam alerts!
www.takeanother5.com
And available for download from iTunes and Google music play

Follow me on Twitter @accessibleworld and at author_jodhan
And like me on Facebook at
www.facebook.com/donnajodhan and at www.facebook.com/authordonnajodhan

A challenge: Setting the fan to blow on me

This is probably one of the most challenging things for me to do: being able to set the fan correctly so that its air blows directly on me.

Sometimes I can get it just right but at other times I have to try several times before I get it to be perfect.

It is all about being able to position the fan in the correct spot so that the air from it  blows directly on me.  I know that not being able to see does indeed play a part but I have no choice here. 

I have to persevere and hopefully I'll learn to do it just right some day soon.

I'm Donna J. Jodhan, your friendly accessibility advocate, wishing you a terrific day. 

If you would like to learn more about me as an author then I invite you now to visit
http://www.donnajodhan.com

There you will not only learn about me as an author but you will also gain insights into my campaign against bullying and why I strongly believe that you need to consider joining me in order to insure that the future of our kids with their wide-eyed smiles and infectious laughter is secured forever.

And now my weekly podcast!
From recipes to apps, and 5 minute mysteries to tips for entrepreneurs and scam alerts!
www.takeanother5.com
And available for download from iTunes and Google music play

Follow me on Twitter @accessibleworld and at author_jodhan
And like me on Facebook at
www.facebook.com/donnajodhan and at www.facebook.com/authordonnajodhan

He is just a hunter! Rico and the bird

He had only done what normal cats do, that is following his natural instincts, but for some reason it did not sit very well with me on this day.

There I was, working away at Mom's dining room table on a quiet Saturday afternoon and suddenly my concentration was interrupted by the screaming of a bird.  No, it did not take me very long to know what was going on but unfortunately for the pretty little dove it was too late.

Rico, our adopted outdoor cat, had somehow managed to capture an unsuspecting bird victim and now he was going to have him for dinner.  There was nothing that anyone could have done. 

It always bothers me whenever such incidents take place and even more when I am unable to see what is going on.   Needless to say that Rico certainly got a huge scolding and tongue lashing from all of us and I do believe that he somehow understood. 😊!

I'm Donna J. Jodhan, your friendly accessibility advocate, wishing you a terrific day. 

If you would like to learn more about me as an author then I invite you now to visit
http://www.donnajodhan.com

There you will not only learn about me as an author but you will also gain insights into my campaign against bullying and why I strongly believe that you need to consider joining me in order to insure that the future of our kids with their wide-eyed smiles and infectious laughter is secured forever.

And now my weekly podcast!
From recipes to apps, and 5 minute mysteries to tips for entrepreneurs and scam alerts!
www.takeanother5.com
And available for download from iTunes and Google music play

Follow me on Twitter @accessibleworld and at author_jodhan
And like me on Facebook at
www.facebook.com/donnajodhan and at www.facebook.com/authordonnajodhan

A great experience: Mom's surprise on my plate

Sometimes it really does not take too much to surprise me, especially when it comes to enjoying food that I do not expect to be there on my plate. Such was the case a few months ago when Mom completely surprised me one lunchtime.

She did not tell me on this day and I usually have an idea what she is going to serve.  So just imagine when I sat down and proceeded to discover what was for lunch.

Mom was sitting in her chair close by and I could tell that she was watching me intently but I did not even stop to think why she was doing so and then I found out a few minutes later. 

As is my habit, I used my fork to poke around my plate and at first I missed it completely but on my second go around the plate I found it at 12 o'clock.  Oh yes, they were my favorite ribs!  Yum, yum!  That was my surprise for the day and both Mom and I enjoyed it all.

I'm Donna J. Jodhan, your friendly accessibility advocate, wishing you a terrific day. 

If you would like to learn more about me as an author then I invite you now to visit
http://www.donnajodhan.com

There you will not only learn about me as an author but you will also gain insights into my campaign against bullying and why I strongly believe that you need to consider joining me in order to insure that the future of our kids with their wide-eyed smiles and infectious laughter is secured forever.

And now my weekly podcast!
From recipes to apps, and 5 minute mysteries to tips for entrepreneurs and scam alerts!
www.takeanother5.com
And available for download from iTunes and Google music play

Follow me on Twitter @accessibleworld and @author_jodhan
And like me on Facebook at
www.facebook.com/donnajodhan and at www.facebook.com/authordonnajodhan