Always in my heart: The day I left Montreal

This is a day that shall forever remain firmly imprinted on my mind. Because it was the day that a small part of my heart died!  The day that I said a sad and silent farewell to the place that I shall always call home! However, I promised to return as often as I could.

Ah, yes!  Montreal!  And as the Air Canada plane rose slowly into the air, I looked through the window and down at the rapidly disappearing city.  Cars driving along the highway, homes looking like tiny dots, and snow and grass all intermingled as the day before we had had a terrible storm!  My tears rolled swiftly down my cheeks as I looked down and increased as I looked upwards and outwards to see a pale blue fall sky looking back at me.

It was a typical fall day with the sun doing its best to smile and the biting fall air nipping at my clothes as I got into the car and drove with Betty Tate to the airport.  Too late, no!  I had made my decision but I knew that I would be back soon to visit!

So many memories that are forever stored away in my memory bank.  So many things to remember and cherish!  This is the city where I found myself and obtained my vision!  Ah, yes!  Pictures to fill my scrap books for a lifetime and beyond!

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


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

Oh Montreal! My home forever! Remembering Montreal

Oh, my beautiful and beloved Montreal!  Marvelous!  Sweet!  My heart shall forever belong to you and you shall forever remain in my heart!

This is the city where I discovered myself, both with functional and with little sight.  I learned so much through you!  I found myself and my identity!

From ice skating and snow banks to busy streets, stores, and restaurants! From lush green grass and blooming flowers to peaceful lakes and from summer to winter and spring to fall!

How could I ever forget learning how to navigate those metros with very little sight and then just standing there taking in all of those beautiful sights when I acquired my functional vision!  Skiing with very little vision!  Learning to play basketball and broom ball!  Going shopping with my friends, especially Char, my best friend!

How could I ever forget the night when Marion promised me that when I received my new cornea she would take me to see the lights of Montreal and she never disappointed me!  Those lights of the City of Montreal!  How could I ever dare to forget!

The cold winter days walking to classes with my jacket zipped right up to my chin!  The fall days walking among the falling leaves and listening to my feet crunching against them!  The beautiful spring days enjoying the fresh air and fragrances of flowers as I walked and those long lingering days on a tandem bike or listening to baseball games on my radio!

This was my beautiful Montreal and shall forever be my beautiful Montreal!

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

Cherished memories forever: Remembering McGill University

I can still remember McGill University as if it were only just yesterday. This is where I can say that I truly enjoyed so many wonderful university days.  I met so many great students from around the world and there was something else!

This was the time when I got my first cornea transplant and accordingly it gave me a delightful opportunity to discover so many new things with my new vision.  I learned to walk the McGill campus.  I discovered the trees and snow banks.  I stared openly at tall buildings and ice sculptures.  I learned how to navigate restaurants on campus, find my way around the book store and most of all, I learned how to find my classrooms all by myself.

I shall forever remember graduation day when Jennifer walked with me across the stage to collect my MBA certificate.  There I was, trying my best not to look out at the audience but remembering in time to bow to them as I walked. Then I remembered seeing everyone standing, my parents and so many from the MAB were also there to watch me graduate.  What a fantastic memory!

Then the delicious dinner afterwards at a fabulous Chinese restaurant. Thanks to my parents, the day could not have ended on a better note!

Just to think that years later our Canadian Governor General was my principal when I graduated from McGill.

I thank all of my professors and student volunteers.  I thank the staff of the MAB!  So many to mention!  I thank the volunteers at the MAB!  But most of all?  I thank God for having enabled me to discover so much, especially so
with my new vision!

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

Cherished memories forever: Remembering Concordia University

It may have been so many years ago but memories of Concordia University shall always be with me!

This is where I obtained my Bachelor of Commerce degree.  It is the university that gave me my break in life to go out there and discover the world and it is the university where I met so many wonderful kids and professors.

I still remember graduation day when Donna Patton walked with me onto the stage to receive my diploma.  Boy, was I nervous but when Donna told me that all of my classmates stood as I walked across the stage, I had to do everything in my control not to start crying.

So many people from the MAB came to watch me get my diploma.  From Mr. Williams and Mr. Evans to Dorothy, Marion, Char and Heather, Virginia and Leo and many more!  Mom and Dad came, too, having traveled so far to watch me take my bow! Jeff and his friends also came and Dave took photos of me!

I shall always remember those security guards who used to escort me across campus as I went from class to class!  I think that they wanted to make sure that I did not fall into those tall snowbanks.  Angie, Leo Carroll, and those whose names I am trying so hard to remember.

Then there were those wonderful professors: Bernice Wright, Frank Hayes, Andrew O’Connor, Brian Barbierrie, John Motter, Jim Wyatt, George Koory, Henry Greenspan, and my other accounting professors, Jay Flynn, Russ Mcqewin, Brian Smith, Jack Democco, and so many more!  They went out of their way to make sure that I could follow their lectures!

I thank the accounting, marketing, math, stats, economics, commerce, and English departments for having given me so much support and assistance.  I could not have done it without them! To the late Bernice Wright who remained my friend and mentor until her passing in 2012.  To each and every one who helped me along the way and to all of those young student volunteers !  I could never repay each and every one of you for all that you did for me!

I shall always remember those classrooms, lockers, book stores, security desks, hallways and stairs, and so much more! May God bless Concordia forever!

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 heartfelt thanks: Remembering Penfield

Penfield House at the Montreal Association for the Blind is where I met so many kids that have become my friends for life.  Most of all, it is where I met my best friend, Char. Today, I am still friends with not just Char but Chris, Dar, and others.

This was so many years ago and it is just like yesterday.  My dorm room was so luxurious.  We had all the amenities to keep us in comfort and style and the meals were so very delicious.

We attended college and oh, yes!  We skipped classes every now and then. During the summer Char and I went riding in tandem at the back of Penfield House.  Char taught me how to roller skate and play basketball.  We played broom hockey, various card games, and drank tea and ate cookies at
night.

Karen and I had our two-person band, she on the recorder and me on the piano.  We played mainly at night and on weekends whenever she did not go home.  Noreen and others often came to listen and then Karen and I had this little concert in memory of Noreen after she had passed on.  Susan Russell
was our emcee and so many people from the MAB attended.  I'll never forget that day!

Linda Smoke kept me on track with my studies and there was Ruth Macleod and John and Giselle Hall for mobility, Judy Potts, Kathie Palmer and Jennifer Coppold for occupational therapy and Bill Rudkin and so many others helping me in every way.

I must not forget to mention Jay Wodsworth. He escorted me to class every day during my first days at Penfield as I did not know my way and had to learn my mobility.

The thing that I will be forever grateful for is that so many staff members pitched in to help me, and not just with my daily tasks!  They read to me, recorded books and handouts for me, and did everything that they could to help me complete my studies.

From the late Jeff Tessler to Sandra Dorfman, Ruth Robillard and Donna Woods, Fred Collins and William Rudkin Sr.: they were all my readers.  From Dorothy Allen and Marion Torpy to Joyce Leach and Karen and Jamie Prieur and Linda Smoke and her husband, Jerry, to Tony Russell; these were my greatest supporters.

Then there was Donna-Marie Patton, Maralyn Caners, Ellianne Masson, Nicole Caron, Suzanne Billideau, Maralyn Bridgeman, Lorina Pottier, Dollie Hicks, Judie Fletcher, Harry Morrison, and if I have left out anyone then my sincerest of apologies.

A special thanks must go out to Paul Gareau, Dr. John Simms, and Wilfred Williams and oh, yes!  Joan Stryde.

I had five Montreal moms: Dorothy Allen, Marion Torpy, Joyce Leach, K McCrimmon, and K Smith.  They were all there for me when I had my terrible accident and we have remained friends after all of these years!  Then my dear math teacher, Betty Tate! From Wilfred Williams to Dr. John Simms; I shall never forget!

They were all mentors to me and each in their own way helped to make me a better person!  Thank you, Penfield House!  Thank you, MAB!  Thank you, everyone!

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

Precious memories forever: Remembering Broughten Hall High School

Memories of this wonderful high school of so many years ago shall forever linger in my mind.  Today, as I sit writing this blog, I can still remember almost all of my classmates.

There was Ruthie, Winnie, and Marie Lamb.  Johannah J-Dean, Angela Alcock and Angela Sexton. Angela Lightfoot, and Angela Bertill. Michelle Moran, Anne-Marie Doyle, Concietta Corruvia, Helen Murray, Ann Cassady, Kathleen Chambers, Jackeline Cole, and those great teachers: Ms Cropper, Ms Berkhill, and Ms Garino!

Of course, there were so many more to remember; a special memory of Pat Quinn and Celia Chambers and her niece, Celia.  These were all youngsters just like me, simply seeking to finish high school and then go out there and discover the world.

I may not have realized it at that time but I was a truly lucky kid.  I had the luxury of attending one of the finest high schools for girls in England and I stayed at one of the finest accommodations.  There was always someone to help me. If I had to do it all over again, I would be much more
appreciative and I would take this experience and learn so much more from it.

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 very frustrating: At the North York General Hospital

Going to a hospital to have tests done or even for surgery is definitely not my favorite thing and I can bet that it is not for most of us.  However, when you are a vision-impaired person there are other things that are more challenging.

If you meet staff who have the additional patience to be of assistance then that is fine. But when they are overworked, or simply do not have the patience, then here is where the challenges occur.

I have met both types and each time I need to go to the hospital then I usually pray very hard before setting out.  If they do not fully explain what they are going to do then this is a challenge.  Or if they do something and do not tell me then this is yet another challenge.

Whenever they think that I cannot get undressed or dressed on my own and ask my friend or Mom to help me, then this is an embarrassment.  Or whenever they shout at me because I cannot hear them then this is yet another embarrassment.

What could be the solution?  More awareness training is needed.

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

Interesting experiences: Cleaning up the flowers

This is probably one of the more interesting tasks for me on a daily basis. That is, when I need to clean up the flowers.

This usually occurs whenever I receive flowers from Mom or friends. I need to make sure that each day I clean up the fallen flowers or make sure that I find and remove them from my arrangement.

At first it was a chore for me but now I think that I have it down pat and to a science.  Each day I check around where the arrangement is and I clean up the dead flowers that have fallen off.  Then I check the arrangement itself and painstakingly make sure that there are no dried up or dead flowers.

I place the dead flowers in my dust pan and after making sure that I have checked thoroughly I take my dust pan to my garbage and empty it there. This method works for me and it's all in a day's work.

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 moment of frustration: When the salad fell

I have to admit that it was quite a mess for me when my salad fell out of the fridge. So much of it fell out of the container and onto the floor and as a vision-impaired person I had to take some extra time to clean it up. And why?

Because I had to make very sure that I retrieved everything and this meant searching my kitchen floor far and wide on my knees. So, off I went, in search of rolling blueberries and walnuts.  It was easier to find the lettuce but those nuts and berries were a problem because they rolled all over the place.

They rolled under my fridge.  They rolled down my kitchen floor and then they rolled onto my hall's carpet.  All together I must have spent about half an hour gathering up everything and even then I stumbled upon some stray berries a few days later.

All in a day's work.

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

Patience builders: Knitting and pottery

I have to admit that before I started to learn how to knit and do pottery, my patience was not always the best; a few years ago I decided to do something about this.  You see, I wanted to change my approach to life and to the world around me and I felt strongly that part of the solution would be for me to improve my patience.

So, off I went and after a bit of pondering I came up with these two activities.  For the past 3 years I have been knitting and doing pottery and I have seen a big improvement.  These two activities have taught me so much when it comes to not just building patience but also learning how to work better on my own, how to develop alternative approaches, and how to find ways to improve my creativity and innovation.

I truly enjoy my knitting and pottery and I hope to stick with these two hobbies for a very long time to come.

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

Challenging times: Tax time

I can honestly say that tax time is probably one of the most challenging times for me as a vision-impaired person. It means that I need to make doubly sure that I am giving the correct and appropriate documents to my tax accountant.

So, off I go to gather up my company's invoices, receipts, expense and revenue statements and then all of the other relevant bank statements.

I have to do it for both my personal taxes and for my business taxes.  I put each into separate envelopes.  That is, one envelope for business and one envelope for personal.

I double check everything but it is a good thing that I am constantly on the ball making sure that I keep all documents up to date.  It sure makes things a lot easier and much less complicated.  Then, when I am ready, it is off to my accountant.

It is so important for me, as a vision-impaired person, to have everything in order and that I know at all times where everything is.

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 bit of a challenge: Searching for the missing chess piece

A few months ago my favorite technician came over to help me with some stuff but after he left I realized that one of my chess pieces had been knocked off the board but I did not hear it fall.  My office is carpeted so sometimes it is difficult to hear when anything falls.

So, off I went to hunt for it.  It was the white rook and if any of these chess pieces are lost then it is next to impossible to use the chess set for a game.

I used my logic to try and find my white rook. I was in luck!  Nestled there was my lost white rook.

This is the strategy that I often use: logic and a package of patience to go along with 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 at author_jodhan
And like me on Facebook at
www.facebook.com/donnajodhan and at www.facebook.com/authordonnajodhan