Tales from the Blind Side

I'm not sure how many know this, but I actually have a visual handicap called Ocular Albinism.  Essentially, my eyes are underdeveloped:  they lack "normal" levels of pigment and the "wiring" to the optic nerve is a tad askew.  As a result, my vision is classified as "legally blind"...

More import than the condition itself, are the interesting scenarios I find myself in as a result.  Let's just say that, during those "ice breaker"-type sessions, when a group of people are meeting each other for the first time, I ALWAYS have a "most embarrassing story".  The only difficulty I have is picking which story to tell.  So, I'll drop in periodically to share a different slice of my life, as some might be interested / entertained / surprised by the situations that arise.  Today, I'll share my first.

I was exiting the "band room" of my high school with my long, attention-getting trumpet case firmly clenched in my right hand and my book bag latched to my back.  As I stepped out into the sunlight, I was surprised to see my grandmother's silver Honda Accord parked along the curb.  Wrestling practice was cancelled for the day, so I was anxious to get home and foolishly widdle away my extra free time. 

I pulled the handle and the back door creaked as I swung it firmly open.  First, I tossed my trumpet case across the back seat to where it was situated behind the driver's seat.  Next, I discarded my book bag, lazily letting it drop against the seat cushion.  I had let it drop too hard and watched it cascade off the seat and onto the floor board.   I briefly sat down in the back to pull the book bag onto the seat as I had intended.

As I started to exit the backseat, I caught a glimpse of what appeared to be a hairy arm stretched across the passenger seatback.  Was Grandpa standing in today?  As I glanced up toward the driver's seat, I met the eyes of a young man who appeared to be my age.  Immediately, I knew what I had done...suddenly, in a deeply inquisitive yet polite manner, the man uttered, "What's up, man?" 

I erupted in laughter and politely explained the likeness his car shared with that of my grandmother.  To make matters worse, a young girl for whom I held a helpless crush emerged onto the scene and climbed into the passenger's seat.  She knew of my disability and looked at me with understanding in her eyes.  I simply smiled, gathered my belongings, and shut the back door. 

I walked away from the vehicle in utter disbelief and sat my trumpet upon the pavement.  I sat atop the case, with my head buried in my hands...waiting for my REAL ride to arrive.