Life Is Funny

I have frequently said that life is the funniest thing that will ever happen to you so you might as well enjoy it. I have also said that disasters make the best stories. You can eat out for a month on a good, disaster story. People will invite you over for dinner if you are entertaining and have a good story.

Make life amusing

If regular, boring, old life is amusing, how much more amusing can visually impaired life be? No, really. From the slow-motion pratfalls to the medicine cabinet misidentifications – has anyone ever put roll-on muscle cream on for deodorant? That stuff burns! We do have more than our share of faux pas.

Mistaken identity

Of course, we don’t always manage to cause these situations on our own. Every once in a while, you get someone who likes to “set you up” for their own amusement. A few years back I was talking to a neighbor and asked him what the dark smudges in the field were. He told me they were hay bales.

That was great until the “hay bales “ started to move. I told him that if those were hay bales, his hay bales were rolling uphill! Got him! I watched the little smudges that were actually deer run up the hill and into the woods. Maybe being gotten will teach him not to fib to the disabled!

What are they demonstrating?

Then there are those dear souls who are aware of your vision impairment and think you are worse off than you actually are. I was getting my usual ride home from yoga and we came upon a demonstration in the town square. I asked my driver what they were demonstrating about. The answer was abortion.

Then I asked what side they were on and my driver replied “over there.” Alright then. Let’s try that again. WHAT side are they on ? “To your right”. Oh, boy. Needless to say, my driver will never live this down, but we got a good laugh out of it.

I don't sound blind?

Telling that story to a client I know has a sense of humor, I said something about how my driver must have been trying to be extra sensitive to my visual impairment. I “see” this client over the phone and it has been a long time since we were actually able to see one another in person.

My client made the comment he had forgotten I have a vision impairment. My comment? ‘What” are you saying I don’t SOUND blind?” I guess that is good to know!

Laughing at yourself

So, seriously, how many times since losing part of your vision have you had the opportunity to laugh at yourself? Have you taken that opportunity? Have you shared that laugh with someone else? My driver and I now have a little inside joke: WHAT side are they on? It is a little secret we share and giggle about.

I do not want my vision loss to be the elephant in the room. You know, something obvious that everyone is too politically correct to talk about. At work, I get busted regularly for my little mistakes (big mistakes?) and that is exactly how I want it.

After all, life truly is the funniest thing that will ever happen to you. Might as well enjoy the disasters. They make GREAT stories.