Yesterday I spent part of the morning with my friend, Kathy. She was being interviewed by a news station about her upcoming trip to New York City to receive the Helen Keller Achievement Award from The American Foundation for the Blind.
The news station had asked that Kathy have someone with her that they could also interview who knew her well and could offer perspective on Kathy's life. I got to be that friend.
This award is a huge honor. Past recipients include Stevie Wonder and Ray Charles. You can't be nominated for it, you can't apply for it. The American Foundation for the Blind contacts you and tells you that you have won,
and then invites you to a gala in Manhattan at the Harvard Club to receive your award.
That gala is next week.
Kathy asked me to come early for the interview. That gave us a chance to make sure we had some moments to prepare together and then chat.
"I think she's here; I heard a car," Kathy said to me and she stood up to go answer the door.
From my seat, I had a view to the street through her living room windows and I replied, "I can see out the living room window and don't see anyone yet. Maybe that was for another home?"
And then Kathy said something which gave us both the giggles.
"Oh, I'd forgotten you could see."
We laughed and we laughed (and Kathy was correct; the reporter had arrived only to find us trying to recover from our fit of laughter.)
But if you think about it, that comment speaks volumes about her and about our friendship and why it works so well.
For example, many times I have forgotten she can't see. I have subbed in for Tate and bumped her into something. Or gotten out of the car and started walking to a building, leaving her standing on her side of the car waiting for me to come over and offer my arm.
And there have been times when she has forgotten that I am sighted. Another friend and I were at her home having take-out for a girls gab night, and we chatted well after it got dark outside. All of a sudden, Kathy exclaimed, "Oh my goodness! I didn't turn any lights on! I forgot that you couldn't see if it got dark!"
Another good laugh together, but Linda and I were relieved when she stood up and flipped some lights on for us!
Kathy was once asked to describe herself, and being blind was way down on the list. Blindness is a part of who she is, just like she has curly hair and blue eyes. But just as that curly hair and blue eyes don't define her, neither does being blind. It's just a part of who she is.
It is also an underlying motive for her to serve and lead others, both in and out of the visually impaired community, and boy howdy is she ever a leader. A groundbreaker. And more.
Yesterday I reminded her to add the Helen Keller Achievement Award to her resume and joked, "What are you up to now? 17 pages?" I was stunned to find that I was not far off in my guess.
Indiana Teacher of the Year, National Teacher of the Year Final Four, Dolly Parton Chasing Rainbows Award winner, and the list goes on.
You know that old, derogatory saw, the blind leading the blind? Well, its meaning is WRONG.
Kathy leads us all and I would follow her anywhere.
Kathy, her former guide Nacho, and me, off to a speaking engagement for Kathy.
I can't share photos from the interview until after it is published next week. Stay 'tooned!
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