On the Highway with Barry – Lumberton, Texas

Day 1

Properly, that is uncommon. I’m normally headed to an airport and have a narrative to inform about somebody I sat subsequent to on the aircraft or the shuttle, or one thing like that. Lumberton, Texas is a two-hour drive from my house in Nacogdoches. My very first journey for Chief again in the summertime of ’22 was to Austin, and I drove there, however I’ve been on a aircraft for each journey since then. Till at this time.

Lumberton is nearly 20 minutes north of Beaumont, TX, and can be the house of my excellent buddies, Dion and Julia Potter. Dion and I went to Stephen F. Austin collectively to be taught to be O&M specialists WAY again when and Julia was already effectively on her option to world domination, learning to be a bodily therapist. She’s now the proud proprietor, operator and head dishwasher at Potter Pediatrics in Lumberton and Dion has been instructing O&M in deep east Texas since God was a boy. I’m wanting ahead to spending a while with them, getting Dion’s opinion on coaching areas for my consumer and getting a few of Julia’s cooking.  I’ve written in regards to the Potter’s earlier than, however considerably not directly whereas discussing the most effective BLT I ever had. It was on Julia’s mom and father’s aspect porch in Jasper, TX., in case you need to look that one up.

Day 2

It’s eclipse day, however I’m afraid that the deep east Texas climate goes to forestall me from seeing something. If I make it that lengthy, I’ll be in my 90s earlier than the subsequent full one comes this manner. It’s neat, I suppose, however I gotta go to work at this time.

The day began effectively as a result of breakfast on the lodge included REAL bacon. If that continues, I’ll be doing OK. I’m right here in Lumberton to see Kevin, a former draftsman who misplaced his imaginative and prescient not too way back. He’s lived in Lumberton for a protracted, very long time and desires to be extra impartial, extra comfy doing the issues he likes to do.

We began in a neighborhood with a fairly good sidewalk sample over by Potter Pediatrics to ensure Kevin’s cane abilities had been strong they usually had been.  He’s had about 12 hours of O&M from the state beforehand and he has a very good basis. Earlier than we completed for the morning, the skies opened up and started raining on us.  I had an umbrella with me, however I’m not a small particular person, neither is Kevin.  He’s 6’4 with large, broad shoulders and my little umbrella wasn’t doing the trick. We received fairly soaked earlier than making it again to the car, so heading house or to the lodge for dry garments felt good.

After lunch, we headed to Walmart to do parking zone and retailer journey. You’ve heard me say this earlier than, however parking heaps are evil locations. They are often navigated safely, although, when you take note of the main points. Retailer navigation is totally different in each retailer however has some similarities. As an example, most Walmart shops are configured the identical: two entrances, customer support between the 2 in entrance of the registers, predominant north/south and east/west thoroughfares, pharmacy, bakery, and many others. Now, they do change the shop round quite a bit, I’m positive to maintain us inside longer finding ineffective plastic objects we predict we will’t reside with out. Nonetheless, the principle components keep the principle components, and you’ll journey inside independently.  After indoor Walmart was conquered, we labored extra within the parking zone and received an introduction to heavier site visitors alongside one of many predominant streets on the town.

After work, I met Dion and Julia for dinner at Tia Juanita’s Fish Camp for blackened redfish Pontchartrain with the jalapeño grits.  Julia mentioned the grits would change my life and she or he could have been proper…

Day 3

The bacon this morning seemed remarkably like sausage hyperlinks, so I handed on that.  The eggs seemed actual.  Actual sufficient to strive once more. I did discover a type of all-natural bagels with the all-natural cream cheese too.

I met Kevin sitting on his porch ready for me.  We went out searching for stairs to follow his method and ended up again at my lodge. For those who haven’t seen, there aren’t any stairs in Walmart or in most grocery shops.  Stair method is a little bit of a trick, however after you have it down, it’s not too dangerous.  As an O&M teacher, we’re taught to at all times go upstairs first as a result of normally nobody is nervous about falling up the steps.  Get their confidence up finding the steps and go up so far as you may to get the method perfected, then head down.

The very best recommendation I may give somebody with out imaginative and prescient studying to do stairs with a cane can be to discover a method that works for you and do this very same method each time. You don’t need to be guessing on the steps or attempting new issues. Discover one which works and keep it up. And please, for goodness’ sake, DON’T COUNT THE STAIRS.  Everybody thinks blind folks depend stairs and even depend their steps.

This isn’t a good way to do issues as a result of: 1. What when you lose depend? and a couple of: That’s quite a lot of counting all over the place you go. DON’T COUNT. And please don’t encourage anybody to take action. As an alternative, we train consistency of method and good use of time and distance so as to pay attention to your environment. Constant and environment friendly cane strategies will let whenever you’re finished with the steps. DON’T COUNT THE STAIRS!

After the steps (which we DID NOT COUNT) we went searching for heavier site visitors and whereas we discovered some near Lumberton Excessive Faculty, we discovered extra dead-end sidewalks.  Whereas on our journey, we found the one Accessible Pedestrian Sign (APS) in Lumberton. We went to lunch at Good Man Ricky’s American Grill. Cajun meals: IFYKYK (if , ).  I had the rooster and sausage gumbo, and I don’t keep in mind what Kevin had as a result of I used to be in heaven. The roux was so darkish and wealthy, I’ll not recuperate.

I had some gumbo on Sunday night at Dion and Julia’s and I realized that actual Cajuns eat their gumbo with potato salad. Not beside your bowl of gumbo, however IN it. I didn’t partake in that custom, not being an actual Cajun. I didn’t do it Sunday night time and I didn’t do it at this time. Not my factor. No offense to potato salad. I really like you too, however otherwise.

Day 4

Alas, the bacon appears to have gone the best way of the buffalo. Some buffalo bacon would in all probability be actually good. The “eggs” have misplaced their attract by breakfast #3 so I stuffed up on yogurt. If I didn’t must be productive later, I’d strive the waffles, however then I’d want a nap.

Anyway, Kevin and I are headed into Beaumont, a bigger city about 20 minutes south of Lumberton. We’re nonetheless searching for busier site visitors conditions. We parked on Crockett Avenue, near the final workplace constructing that Kevin labored in earlier than dropping his imaginative and prescient and headed out. Not too far down our first road I seen a larger-than-normal police presence on the close by Jefferson Theatre — a stunning outdated theatre that has been restored and used to point out traditional films. Wanna really feel outdated? Dumb and Dumber is exhibiting on the Jefferson. It’s thought of a traditional now. I personally suppose it’s a traditional, however “traditional” on this case means “outdated.” Ugh.

Anyway, whereas we had been discussing the police scenario one other of Beaumont’s best rolled up subsequent to us and rolled down his window. I assumed he was going to tell us in regards to the scenario and perhaps ask us to vacate the realm, however as an alternative he requested us if we had been doing mobility coaching! Officer Gerber’s spouse is legally blind, has had O&M previously, and had simply returned from upstate New York with a brand-new information dog from Guiding Eyes, an exquisite group in Yorktown Heights, NY. How groovy is that? After telling us all in regards to the new dog, he advised us that there had been minor disturbance on the theatre and the police had been there to calm issues down. No issues for us.

We completed up our route and headed for lunch with a few of Kevin’s outdated work buddies at a spot referred to as the Bayou Café. It’s a type of hole-in-the-wall locations that doesn’t appear like one of many fancy locations on the fancy purchasing facilities. Guess what I had? That’s proper: gumbo. The roux right here was darker and richer than the earlier two bowls I’ve had up to now, and it was improbable! I really was going to strive the potato-salad-in-the-gumbo factor, however that they had simply offered out. Perhaps I’ll be an actual Cajun on one other journey to the southeast. Kevin’s buddies had been a hoot to take heed to as all of them shared tales from work and life. It’s good to have buddies.

After dropping Kevin off I headed to Pearland, barely south of Houston, to talk to a Lions Membership there. I used to be supposed to do that in January, however I received snowed in whereas nonetheless in Michigan and didn’t make the occasion. I’ve been attempting to recover from there ever since and tonight is the night time. The Pearland Woman Lions is a reasonably new membership, having break up off from one other membership lately. Not like a church break up or something like that. So far as I do know, it was amicable. I do know the Woman Lions positive had been amicable. Such a vibrant group of girls. It was a pleasure to be there and communicate just a bit about Chief and our applications. After I was finished, they introduced me/Chief with a verify for $20,000! Lions are a HUGE a part of what we’re capable of do at Chief and it was an honor to characterize Chief Dog at this occasion. There was a ceremonial verify, a type of enormously outsized checks for the presentation. Very groovy! It made for a late night time and never sufficient sleep for the subsequent day however very effectively well worth the journey.

I additionally realized about one other wonderful program referred to as Isaiah 117. Sure, {that a} Bible reference and it goes like this: “be taught to do good; search justice, right oppression; convey justice to the fatherless, plead the widow’s trigger.” This group builds homes everywhere for youths in transition to/from foster care. As an alternative of going to some authorities constructing and ready in a caseworker’s workplace on in all probability a very dangerous day of their lives, they get to go to a house the place they’ll have their very own room, hand around in a lounge, watch TV with their siblings, have a home-cooked meal at a eating desk and sleep in a mattress with contemporary sheets and pillows. Only a improbable deal, throughout. Examine them out. 

Day 5

I’m not even going to debate breakfast. So disappointing. Transferring on. Kevin was ready for me on his entrance porch, and we headed off to Beaumont once more. We stopped at Academy first to do retailer orientation. Certainly one of Kevin’s targets is to be extra impartial whereas out purchasing together with his household, so we hung out in one among his favourite shops. When orienting to large shops like this, I attempt to break it up into smaller sections. I name it “not ingesting from the hearth hose.” For those who attempt to be taught it suddenly, it may be overwhelming. A method to do that is to be taught the form or perimeter of the constructing then fill in with the main points of the inside.

Kevin is a pocketknife collector, so we spent quite a lot of time within the knife part. I’ve seen Kevin’s assortment and it’s spectacular. He even has an Instagram web page about his every-day carry referred to as “Hawaiian.shirt.Friday_edc” through which he posts about what he’s carrying in his pocket like his knife, problem coin, and handkerchief. You understand he’s a very good man if he carries a pocketknife and a handkerchief! He additionally has a web page referred to as “kevs_blind_life”, through which he discusses all types of subjects associated to blindness and different issues in life. Give him a observe if you consider it.

Anyway, we spent quite a lot of time with the knives, and I’ve all types of recent gadgets on my want record. We completed up at Academy and headed over to the mall to determine the way to navigate escalators. We explored the mall and labored on orienting to this very giant house, once more NOT ingesting from the hearth hose, and ended up in Dillard’s the place we discovered the escalators. Escalators could be scary for people who can’t see them, however not troublesome to navigate in any respect with just a bit data beforehand. Kevin and I made the ascending and descending journey a few occasions till he advised me that he felt comfy and we headed out of the shop.

On our method via the boys’s cologne part we had been stopped and supplied a sniff at a brand new perfume, by Jane, who’s from Scotland. Pretty, beautiful accent about which Kevin seen straight away and requested about. Seems, Jane’s husband, Gary, who remains to be in Scotland, is blind and misplaced his imaginative and prescient on account of taking the identical remedy as Kevin. Bizarre, proper? Gary, nonetheless, will not be dealing with his imaginative and prescient loss like Kevin is. Gary will not be on the level of acceptance and is having a very onerous time coping with this monumental life change. Kevin and I gave her as a lot data and sources as we might, together with the way to measure him for a cane and the way to use it. Clearly simply the fundamentals, however I hope we had been of some assist to her. The most important assist she received, although, was watching Kevin touring independently via life. Simply on the market doing it, regardless of his setback. I want Gary might have seen that as effectively.

We stopped for a late lunch, and I seen that there was quite a lot of data on the TVs within the restaurant about O.J. Simpson. I used to be too far-off to learn any of the scrolling data on the underside of the TV, so I didn’t understand till I received again to the lodge that he died. Unbelievable soccer participant. Had a very good function in The Bare Gun films. Pretty sordid life particulars outdoors of these issues.  As Forrest Gump says: “That’s all I’ve to say about that.”

Day 6

I had dinner with Dion and Julia final night time at a spot referred to as The Tree. A fantastic spot the place I had a pork loin steak and a few purple hull peas. Unbelievable. That, coupled with the truth that I’m testing this morning, necessitated me skipping breakfast. On the day they lastly determined to prepare dinner extra bacon. Critically? I imply, dadgummit!  Anyway, I went on over to Kevin’s for our final day with the aroma of bacon nonetheless in my nostrils. He was ready for me on the porch like each different day this week. We’re heading to an area grocery retailer, HEB, this morning as a result of it’s the one Kevin makes use of essentially the most. We employed our not-drinking-from-the-fire-hose strategy of indoor orientation, and he figured it out fairly shortly. So shortly, the truth is, that we had time to movie a reel for Kevin’s Instagram web page. For those who occur to look at it, you will notice me nearly wipe out after falling off a curb whereas strolling backwards filming Kevin. The reel turned out nice and it was enjoyable to do.

I’ll be house, in my mattress, tonight, which is totally different from most of my journeys. I normally don’t fly out till the subsequent morning, however it’s only a two-hour drive this time. I like to journey, however I positive take pleasure in getting house. I’ll be writing to you from Mechanicsburg, PA subsequent time, so if anybody has any eating solutions for that space of the world, drop me some hints!