Learning Braille and My New Blog

I just enrolled in an online Braille Class and had to pass an enrollment test.  I had to write a quick story about a part of my life.  Below is what I wrote.  In my opinion I still have a lot of vision left but I am legally blind and you don't want me on the road driving anymore.  : ) Last Fall I started Mobility Training to help me get around easier.  I  am doing the training 'completely blind' so I can learn how to use a cane better.  I plan on sharing about my those experiences in this blog along with other stories that I think may interest people.  

My Sister-in-law Stephanie inspired me to start this blog by encouraging me to write about my 1st Cycle Oregon Experience and surprisingly it was well received.  So, thank Stephanie for opening up a new world to me!!!  I hope you all enjoy my postings and I would love feedback from you.  Good or bad!  Cheers, Keith

I just had my 9th anniversary of being legally blind.  I became legally blind on March 10, 2005.  It happened sooner that I ever thought and I had no idea how I would get around as a professional project manager for a construction company or how i would take care of my 2 daughters.  I was very distraught with this new obstacle.  A lot of tears were shed in the days just after the big news.

I was born with Retinitis Pigmentosa but had had a very 'normal' life up until that point.  My life was going to have many changes if I was going to continue to be active with work, fun and as a dad. 

I moved into town (closer to work) so i could be on a bus line and live near schools for my girls.  I could still ride a bike so I was able to get groceries (with the help of a bike trailer) and make it to different events more easily.  My daughters and I still did everything we always did, it just took longer.  Sometimes a LOT longer.  We traveled to Maui, we traveled to the east coast, we traveled to the San Juan Islands.  We traveled by ferry, taxi, bus, train, friends cars, by foot, by bike and by plane.  We smelled more, we saw more, we heard more and we felt more.  We met more people.  We saw more wildlife. 

People tend to feel bad for me.  What they don't understand is my life is more rich now that I'm legally blind.  There has been so many wonderful gifts that have come from my loss of vision.  I appreciate life more.  I accept what I have more.  I more easily accept help (love) from others.  I am more calm.  I am more happy.  yes, there are times when losing my vision is scary and hard.  or just a pain.  But everyone has some obstacle in their lives.  RP is one of mine.  I love the life I have lived and i wouldn't change a thing.