How silent movies and recorded stories led me to count my blessings
dd...@bellsouth.net
By Denise Noe
The beginning of a New Year seems an appropriate time for counting our
blessings so I thought I’d share with my readers how recent
experiences led me to appreciate mine.
I watched, and very much enjoyed, a silent movie. This reminded me
that there are many people who would not be able to enjoy a silent
movie. For some this is merely a matter of taste, of disliking the
exaggerated acting that is a convention of films without speaking.
However, there are many people who are unable to enjoy silent movies
for a reason that is much more serious: they are blind.
My vision is imperfect. Indeed, my nearsightedness was a factor in my
failure to learn to drive a car when I was young (itself something of
a handicap in many parts of the United States). My vision is to a
large extent corrected by my contact lenses (although I would require
a new prescription were I again to try to learn to drive). As
frequently happens when people age, I have also grown farsighted so I
usually wear glasses to read.
Nevertheless, for most purposes I see well enough – and I certainly
enjoy the gift of sight. It is one that many people lack.
I very much enjoy listening to recorded stories. Many people cannot
because they are deaf.
Sight and hearing are senses that most people usually take for granted
but those of us who possess them ought to count them as great and
beautiful blessings.
My walk is often awkward because one of my legs is a bit shorter than
the other. I also suffer from chronic lower back pain. But the fact
remains that I DO have legs and I CAN walk – there are many who are
not so fortunate.
Watching a silent movie and listening to a CD led me to count my
blessings and then to write this column about them. I hope this column
will inspire my readers to be grateful for what THEY have.