Lost All of the Time
I recently came across this gritty sensorial view of NYC through the lens of a blind resident.
Through this gentleman’s perspective, no preconceived notions of social, racial or economic boundaries exist for him; he states “I can penetrate neighborhoods.” All senses are piqued; smells, temperature and sound in particular, color his daily world, completely devoid of lightness or dark.
I had befriended a man in Portland, Maine, blind since birth, who navigated the city in a similar manner, avoiding new areas and choosing to adhere to familiar terrain and people. He had agreed to work on a project with me and we would meet and talk for a while at his favorite lunch spot. Just walking with him, each step calculated, each destination planned out well in advance, gave me an extreme insight into his capacity for true presence in the moment, how trust is always in question, and how the continual feelings of fear and vulnerability blanket each day’s activities.
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