this is a necessary list and I am very thankful. I've dumped lists that I found too chatty, or emotionally based. But this list is far too necessary to everyday life for any person granted movement accompanied thinking. Deepest thanks.
On Mon, 27 Oct 2008, Dan Rossi wrote: > Yes, this message is off topic for the Blind Handyman list, and I expect > will spawn a bunch of other off topic posts of agreement. But > it is important, needs to be said, and needs to be read by one and all. > So, moderators, hike your skirts up, and sit on your hands for the next > day or two. *GRIN* > > I was one of the attendies at this years biannual Blind Like Me / Blind > Handyman get-together in Houston. There may not be another as Phil is > retiring from hosting this gathering. Also, although I couldn't be there, > this was the recording of the last BHM and BLM shows. > > We all like to think we make a difference in life. Most of us do. We > make the difference to our spouses, children, family in general. We all > have an impact on a circle of friends and coworkers. It is rare though, > that someone makes a difference in many many lives outside of there normal > circles. Phil Parr, and his buddies Don Shaw, Don Patterson, and Tom > Houston, have made a difference in the lives of hundreds, if not thousands > of blind people, quite literally around the world. > > There idea of producing a show about blind folks doing handyman tasks, and > then another show about the achievements of blind people, great and small, > made a difference. Most of us who post on these lists regularly are > doers. We set our minds to tasks and we do them with little thought. It > is easy to forget that there are many blind people out there who have, > hopefully had, no idea that it was even in the realm of possibility that a > blind person could change a light switch, or wire a house, bang together a > couple of boards for a makeshift shelf, or build a deck, fix a leaky > faucet, or plumb a new bathroom, check the pressure in a car's tires, or > rebuild a race engine. Phil's concept, ability, determination, and > personality has spread that word far and wide. > > I know that reading this list gave me the courage, and the means, to take > on projects like the deck and other projects I have done around my house. > Being able to ask here, how another blind person did something, or just > getting some encouraging words has been a great help. Being able to chat > with others with similar experiences is comforting and gives an > interesting view on the world. > > Phil, I want to thank you and your gang for everything you have done over > the last six years. You should be very proud of what you have created. > > You made a difference. > > Thanks very much. > > -- > Blue skies. > Dan Rossi > Carnegie Mellon University. > E-Mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > Tel: (412) 268-9081 >
