Painful moments: A sad goodbye

 

Saying goodbye to my precious Mom at the end of any visit is always one of the hardest things for me, but this time on March 5, 2022, it was probably the hardest thing to do.  You see, we had to say our goodbyes wearing our masks and it was so very difficult for us both.

As I hugged her and she me. I knew that I would see her again; not soon enough but much sooner than later.  At least I heard her voice and smelled and felt the comforting warmth of her body.

She still managed to kiss me despite the mask and as I walked away I could still feel her gentle lips against my cheek.  Warm, so very gentle, and my mom!

I can only hope and pray that this pandemic ends soon so that we can all get on with our lives!

I'm Donna J. Jodhan, your friendly sight-loss coach and accessibility advisor, wishing you a terrific day.

If you would like to learn more about me as a sight-loss coach and author then I invite you now to visit http://www.donnajodhan.com

There you will not only learn about me as a sight loss coach and 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.

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

Happy days! Dining with the family at last

After almost two years, now finally!  At Mom’s well-worn dining table we gathered to celebrate Gayle’s birthday!  It was a delicious lunch and everyone was in high spirits.

We ate, laughed, shared stories, and thanked God that we were able to be together once more!  This is what the pandemic did to us and the rest of the world.

I simply enjoyed listening to each one’s voice!  I asked questions, received answers, and answered questions of my own.  I sat between Jeff and Mom and could not have asked for two better people on each side!  It seemed like just yesterday when we last gathered here.  

It was a celebration well worth the hours that we spent traveling.  And I can only hope that our next celebration will come a lot sooner.

I'm Donna J. Jodhan, your friendly sight-loss coach and accessibility advisor, wishing you a terrific day.

If you would like to learn more about me as a sight-loss coach and author then I invite you now to visit http://www.donnajodhan.com

There you will not only learn about me as a sight loss coach and 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.

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

How much longer? Those challenging vaccine certificates

This has become another challenge for me during the pandemic but I am not alone.  No, we are all in this together.

We need to produce them each time we visit such places as restaurants and anywhere else that requires them.  We need to make sure that these certificates are always close at hand before we leave our homes; in our purses and wallets.  

No getting away from it so we might as well get used to this new norm.

I'm Donna J. Jodhan, your friendly sight-loss coach and advisor, wishing you a terrific day.

If you would like to learn more about me as a sight-loss coach and author then I invite you now to visit http://www.donnajodhan.com

There you will not only learn about me as a sight-loss coach and 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.

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

Anxious moments: When the dogs come barking

 

This is one of the most difficult challenges for me living in a condo and it is only getting more difficult to deal with.

It appears that more tenants are using dogs as companions and service dogs to help them cope with the pandemic.  For whereas I fully understand, it is difficult for me whenever some of these dogs come running at me barking at the top of their lungs!

They are not trained and disciplined enough so that whenever they see someone with a cane or wearing a mask, they simply run at me and bark so loudly that I am almost ready to faint with fear.

Not being able to see them approaching is so fearful and then I have to make sure that I am not too close to them.  This is almost impossible for me to gauge.  

I just wish that owners could be a bit more careful and considerate.

I'm Donna J. Jodhan, your friendly sight-loss coach and advisor, wishing you a terrific day.

If you would like to learn more about me as a sight-loss coach and author then I invite you now to visit http://www.donnajodhan.com

There you will not only learn about me as a sight-loss coach and 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.

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

Something new: Taking photos of the back of my head

 

Anyone reading this blog may either laugh at me or laugh with me.  And this is not one of my favourite things to do.  I only do it because I need to show my mom that I am keeping up with my hair cuts during this pandemic. Thank God for Sandra, who is only too willing to take these photos for me.

I have grown accustomed to some of Mom's different types of requests, all because she wants to make sure in her own way that I am staying healthy and happy. And the only way to do this is for me to keep having others take photos of me doing different activities and standing or sitting.

Ah, yes!  This is what the pandemic has pushed me to do.

I'm Donna J. Jodhan, your friendly sight-loss coach and advisor, wishing you a terrific day.

If you would like to learn more about me as a sight-loss coach and author then I invite you now to visit http://www.donnajodhan.com

There you will not only learn about me as a sight-loss coach and 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.

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

Wonderful folks! At the hairdresser during the pandemic

They are extremely careful and they continue to be so very friendly and upbeat. I really admire their spirit at this very difficult time!

There is Nadia the owner, Lela my hairdresser, and Sophie my other hairdresser. They go about their business so very efficiently. They make sure that I am masked throughout the entire time and they also wear their protective gear.

Conversation is lively, laughter is rich, and the overall atmosphere is one of complete togetherness.  They guide me effortlessly to the area where my hair is washed, to the chair to have my hair cut, and finally to the cash area to pay my bill.

I wish these wonderful ladies continued luck and success!

I'm Donna J. Jodhan, your friendly accessibility advisor, 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.

Follow me on Twitter @accessibleworld and @author_jodhan

And like me on Facebook at

www.facebook.com/donnajodhan and at www.facebook.com/authordonnajodhan

The new reality: Challenges of pandemic shopping

It's all about ensuring that I social distance correctly, wear a mask, and make sure that I do not touch public surfaces as best as I can.

This is where my friend Stephanie comes in. She is careful and so very helpful. She is alert and makes sure that I am always protected. She is constantly watchful and making sure that my social distancing is just right.

She does not allow me to touch surfaces if I don't have to and she even helps me to tap my credit card at the cash register. Stephanie also helps me to use cash for my purchases and I could go on and on but I think that you have the picture now.

The trick for me is to ensure that at all times during this difficult time, I have sighted assistance to keep me safe.

I'm Donna J. Jodhan, your friendly accessibility advisor, 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.

Follow me on Twitter @accessibleworld and @author_jodhan

And like me on Facebook at

www.facebook.com/donnajodhan and at www.facebook.com/authordonnajodhan

My careful Doctor Cory: Visiting the dentist during the pandemic

I can honestly say that I was not overly concerned or nervous when I visited Doctor Cory, my wonderful dentist, to have some work done. All of the safeguards were in place when Sue and I walked in for our first appointment and Arlene had asked all of the stipulated questions before my appointment.

Doctor Cory and his assistant were so very careful, all gowned and masked, and so very considerate in explaining everything to me. As a vision-impaired person, I really depend on those around me to explain, assist, and for me to trust them all the way.

This was the case and I am sure that this helped to make the appointment a good and smooth one.

I'm Donna J. Jodhan, your friendly accessibility advisor, 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.

Follow me on Twitter @accessibleworld and @author_jodhan

And like me on Facebook at

www.facebook.com/donnajodhan and at www.facebook.com/authordonnajodhan

The best way to stay sane: Only listening twice daily

I know that Covid-19 is hard on us all but as a person with a vision impairment, there are those additional challenges.

Social distancing is extremely difficult, especially so because I need to ensure that I follow the rules. Self isolation is next but I use Facetime to help me bridge the communication gaps.

So what do I do in order to stay sane? I just listen to the news only twice daily and I find that this helps me to stay sane, stay on track, and find time to think, breathe, and more.

I'm Donna J. Jodhan, your friendly accessibility advisor, 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.

Follow me on Twitter @accessibleworld and @author_jodhan

And like me on Facebook at

www.facebook.com/donnajodhan and at www.facebook.com/authordonnajodhan

A wonderful person: Thanking Nadia

With so many of us struggling to keep our hair in orderly fashion because of the Covid lockdown, it was really a gift from Heaven, so to speak, when my hairdresser Nadia helped me out by cutting my hair almost two months after the lockdown began.

This is what I call unexpected kindness and understanding during these hard times. Nadia knew that for me it would be extra difficult, given my limited ability to keep my hair on track, so she took the time to sanitize her salon and then called me to come in. I was the only one there.

Nadia worked quickly. First she sanitized my hands, made sure she cut my hair, then sanitized my hands once more. The entire session took no more than 20 minutes.

Thank you so much, Nadia!

I'm Donna J. Jodhan, your friendly accessibility advisor, 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.

Follow me on Twitter @accessibleworld and @author_jodhan

And like me on Facebook at

www.facebook.com/donnajodhan and at www.facebook.com/authordonnajodhan

For better or for worse: A changing world

Gosh! The world has certainly changed over the past few months and it was oh, so very unexpected! It has changed for everyone but for me I now need to readjust the way I do things.

Much more wiping down of surface areas around the house. More care not to touch too many surfaces when I leave the house. Walk with hand sanitizer and wear a mask each time I go out.

I limit my out-of-the-home outings to just one per week to only get what I need. My home office remains the same.

Yes, it is indeed a changing world and I just need to get used to it. Must check on friends and neighbours much more now and the important thing for me is to only share info when it can be verified.

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.

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

Challenges for everyone: Dealing with Covid-19

It came upon us so unexpectedly. Not sure if I could say that it sneaked up on us; maybe we were caught napping and now here we are! Already having had to spend months in self isolation and not sure how much longer this is going to continue.

For me, I can only say that it is a mixed bag of everything. No big need to complain but just hoping and praying that so many others can weather the storm. I run errands with Stephanie once weekly where we both wear masks and take all of the necessary precautions. I do my best to ensure that our weekly routine is well-organized and not too lengthy.

My home office continues to hum along as I have been working from home for several years now so this is not anything new for me. I have placed myself on a strict daily schedule of working, exercising, staying away from the snacks, watching my daily doses of cooking shows, and limiting my newscasts.

I usually take some brain breaks during the day and then I make sure to spend a bit of time on the phone to catch up with friends. So far so good and I top off my day with calls to Mom to check on her.

I'm Donna J. Jodhan, your friendly accessibility advisor, 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.

Follow me on Twitter @accessibleworld and @author_jodhan

And like me on Facebook atwww.facebook.com/donnajodhan and at www.facebook.com/authordonnajodhan

I smiled all day! Playing the piano across the miles

The Covid-19 lockdown has definitely brought some benefits for me, like playing my piano across the miles.

Yes, and believe it or not I have managed to get back into playing my piano after all these years and I plan to play my piano across the miles.

Yes, for Mom and to have some interesting playing times with Angie in England. This will be truly playing the piano across the miles and it will be a good way for me to re-familiarize myself with my piano which has been patiently waiting for me to come back to 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.

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

Keeping my mind intact: Limiting my listening

 

We are living in very uncertain times; times where we are never sure what to expect to see and hear. It can either control your thought process or you can choose not to let it do so.

I choose not to let it do so and I do this by only listening twice daily to the news. Early in the morning and then in the evening. Throughout the day I fill my listening with radio and TV programs that focus on such things as cooking shows, light entertainment and, of course, soft and easy listening music.

For me, it is the only way to keep my sanity and to stay focused. Above all, to remain on track.

I'm Donna J. Jodhan, your friendly accessibility advisor, 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.

Follow me on Twitter @accessibleworld and @author_jodhan

And like me on Facebook at

www.facebook.com/donnajodhan and at www.facebook.com/authordonnajodhan

So very precious: Facetiming with Mom

This is a brand new experience for me and has arisen all due to the Covid-19 situation. In the normal scheme of things, Mom is not a technology person but is interested enough to be basically familiar with some of the wonders of the iPhone.

So, my sister in law, Gayle, and I treated her to a Facetime session and it was all Gayle's idea.

I think that Mom enjoyed her Facetime session as she got to check out how my hair and eyebrows looked. Despite not being able to see her, it was gratifying enough for me that she could see me.

We normally communicate via phone but the extra Facetime treat sure helped us both.

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.

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 reality check: Unable to use my keys to press the buttons

I know that as we take the extra steps to cope with Covid-19, part of the process entails that we are careful when we press buttons. To this end, there are several people in my condo building who use their keys to press the elevator buttons.

For me, this is not as easy. First, I need to locate the intended button and it is not easy for me if I use a key. I normally use my fingers to identify the buttons. They are marked with numbers in large print shapes.

If I use a key then I cannot feel the buttons let alone be able to locate them easily. Most of all, I cannot feel the shapes of the numbers. This is my challenge so I have no choice but to continue to use my fingers.

Too bad! This was a nice thought.

I'm Donna J. Jodhan, your friendly accessibility advisor, 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.

Follow me on Twitter @accessibleworld and @author_jodhan

And like me on Facebook at

www.facebook.com/donnajodhan and at www.facebook.com/authordonnajodhan

It's the new norm: Self isolation for me

I know that for many of my vision-impaired colleagues self isolation is more than a challenge, but for me it is somewhat of a mixed bag. For whereas I don't mind working from home, as I have been doing this now for several years, it means that like the rest of the world, face-to-face socializing has become less frequent and has been replaced by virtual interaction.

Thanks to my good friend, Stephanie, I can still do my weekly errands and we make it once weekly. Sandra is a wonderful neighbour and helps me with reading my mail and whatever else I need her to do when I need sighted assistance.  My highlight of the week is my Monday phone call with my dear friend Gabriella.

This wonderful person and friend shares her activities with me. She describes all kinds of outdoor activities around her: what mother nature is up to, descriptions of flowers, plants, and squirrels, raccoons, and bunnies.

Thanks to Gabriella's descriptions of her walks, on Facebook, I can visualize the outdoors and sometimes she describes certain products to me on the Internet.

So you see, my self isolation is bearable and I won't complain except to yearn to see my mom and my family. However, and thanks to my sister in law, Gayle, I have the luxury of doing Facetime sessions and Mom can see me.

I also do Facetime sessions with my auntie Angie in England every few weeks and this sure helps.

So, bundle all of this with those almost daily Zoom meetings and all is okay.

I'm Donna J. Jodhan, your friendly accessibility advisor, 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.

Follow me on Twitter @accessibleworld and @author_jodhan

And like me on Facebook at

www.facebook.com/donnajodhan and at www.facebook.com/authordonnajodhan

Thought for today: What does social distancing mean to me

At the best of times this becomes a real challenge for me as a vision-impaired person. I need to find ways to ensure that I am doing it the right way. I need to make sure that I know where people are. I need to make sure that I am not too close to anyone. I need to pay more attention so that I can hear what's going on.

Then, when I need to wear a mask while social distancing, this is when things could become a bit dicey and even a bit scary. For instance, I need to make sure that people can hear me well enough because of the mask and that I can speak loudly enough for them to hear me.

Remember now, because of social distancing I cannot touch anyone and they are unable to touch me. More challenges to take into account.

I'm Donna J. Jodhan, your friendly accessibility advisor, 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.

Follow me on Twitter @accessibleworld and @author_jodhan

And like me on Facebook at

www.facebook.com/donnajodhan and at www.facebook.com/authordonnajodhan

A mild panic attack: When my keys went missing

These days, given all the things that one needs to remember when taking safety precautions because of Covid-19, it is no surprise that from time to time I'll forget or misplace something or the other. This is exactly what happened over a month ago.

I had gone to take my garbage out and had just returned to my condo. I have developed a process whereby as soon as I re-enter my condo I place my slippers on my door mat, wash my hands and keys with soap and water, and then I wipe my door handle, locks, and slippers with sanitized Wet Ones.

On this particular day, I followed my process but a few minutes after I had finished I discovered that I had misplaced my keys. At first I began to panic but then logic took over and I started to back track my movements. Lucky for me this worked because within minutes I found my keys. They were sitting on a paper towel on my counter, drying off.

I am always extra careful to ensure that I keep a close eye on my keys because if for some reason I lose them, I am in deep trouble. I am even more careful when I go to take out my garbage. I hang on to them very tightly and I make sure that when I go to throw my garbage down the chute, my keys are far away from the chute.

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.

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

Not that difficult for me: Adjusting to a changed workplace

The Covid-19 pandemic has definitely been responsible for a very new type of workplace. That is, more folks are now working from home.

For me, it is nothing really new but what has changed is that because more folks are now working from home, it means fewer face to face meetings and more teleconferences.

Believe it or not, responses to requests are a bit slower in coming and call to action appears to be a bit more sluggish, at best. I guess that many are adjusting to this new type of workplace.

This probably means that more folks are being challenged to stay on track and on their work schedule while at the same time they are being challenged to resist the call from the fridge and snack jars.

These are changing times but at the end of the day, not much different for me.

I'm Donna J. Jodhan, your friendly accessibility advisor, 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.

Follow me on Twitter @accessibleworld and @author_jodhan

And like me on Facebook at

www.facebook.com/donnajodhan and at www.facebook.com/authordonnajodhan