Seeing New York like you've never seen it before!

Dialogue in the Dark was an adventure we decided to do as a family for Grandma Jean. Grandma has inoperable macular degeneration which limits her vision and although it has stabilized at the moment, it is not curable. Dialogue in the Dark was an interactive, hands-on exhibit in support of the Visually Impaired. We had no idea what we were getting into, but were promised that we would be able to "see" New York like we had never seen it before! In a huge building in Manhattan, we were each given a cane, and escorted into the dark... Serious dark! It's not that there was nothing to see, there would have been lots to see if the lights had been on, but we were in complete darkness. To comfort us, our guide introduced himself and announced he was legally blind.

Our simulated journey began crossing a street with just our canes, and the confident voice of our guide already on the other side. Holding Tim's hand was of no use - in fact it was difficult to be sure it was his I was holding. We were on our own in a world completely altered and unfamiliar. Although I was a little slow crossing the street, I was astute enough to notice that it was a VW Bug about to run me over... (Such details would be handy for insurance purposes).

Once on the other side, we entered a grocery store. I know this because our guide told us so. I had no idea it would be so difficult to shop without eyes. How would you know what was in the box you were shaking, and would you want to buy it having just shaken it to death? How can you tell if what you think is Campbell's soup is not in fact cat food, unless you taste it? And however would you know if anything is on sale even if you do figure out what it is? It was an eye opening experience for me (literally) ... I concluded I would starve as a blind shopper as I never did find the cashier. Our guide however, was already down the street on his way to catch the subway!

Comparatively, if I had charted my level of stress in the overcrowded, uber stuffed, subway on our way to the exhibition, which had all the lights on - my heart rate in the dark with my eyes wide open, would have been off the charts! Going in the train felt like we were cattle being poked and prodded by everyone's wayward canes (apparently most beginners get penalties for high sticking). On our way off the subway, having been jostled, jammed, and bumped about, I felt more like toothpaste squeezing out. Not that anyone could see me, but there was nothing graceful in my exit! However, with hardly a breath and following only the sound of our charming guide's voice, we clambered up the subway steps to the hallowed ground of Central Park.

Bless his heart, he "lead" us to a park bench where I thought I just might sit forever. But when the thunderous beating of my heart subsided, I heard the birds, voices of children, a bicycle going by... even the smell of the flowers was evident in the dark. We sat together in our own isolation, to listen to the sounds of the city. There was a construction site off to the left, a hot dog stand to the right, and a playground nearby. It amazed me how well I could "see" things I couldn't see.

Our last stop was a surprise. We had entered a busy room through a big glass door. I couldn't see where I was but soon I knew we were in a cafe. It was a perfect ending to a rather stressful journey, but a remarkable journey nonetheless. I have seen New York with my eyes, and with my hands, feet, ears, and nose! It is the closest I have come to truly seeing with my heart.