The blonde leading the blind

I'm blonde.
I've been blonde my entire life.
I epitomize being blonde, although I must admit I am probably more of an "old grey mare" than a "blondes have more fun" kind of girl anymore.

However, I love blonde jokes, even though I usually don't get them. Pretending gets me pretty far until I'm ratted out by someone who want's me to explain the joke to them. 
Those non blonde people in my life find great humor in this process. Sheesh!

I have discovered something more challenging than being blonde though. 

Being blind. 

I have a dear friend that has recently become nearly totally blind from a brain injury.
Helping her navigate on a walk made me keenly aware how quickly our lives can change in a moment. 

And, how being blind with a blonde friend was quite the leap of faith on her part!

While walking along she kept pointing out different things in her neighborhood, like that we needed to turn at the next big tree or that we needed to take the next left by the white fence. Confused, I asked her how she knew where those things were without seeing them anymore. 

Hearing her explain how formerly being a sighted person she knew that the big dark shadow in the sky was a tree and that the long shadow along the street was a fence. Since this was her neighborhood, she was very familiar with where things were located.

She had walked that path many times, so many times in fact she could do it with her eyes closed.

To be that familiar with something takes consistent repetition.

My goal is to create repetition with a great depth of love, attention and detail. 
So those closest to me will recognize the real thing, even with their eyes closed as it slips through their fingers.