Guest Column

Many of you may have seen me walking around Shelton using a long white cane. I use this cane to navigate my world due to my very low vision.

About a month ago, I came to town with several objectives in mind. First, I was dropped off at CJ’s Corner Restaurant to have lunch with my Lions Club friend. After a great lunch, my next stop was the new Metro by T-Mobile shop nearby to purchase a new phone for my sweetie of 63 years.

Part of my plan for the day was to use my new Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses.

Next, I needed to go to the post office to mail a couple of packages. After leaving Metro, I knew I needed to find the sidewalk and turn right. Some might say to go east or west, but when using a GPS app, those directions aren’t always helpful.

I found the sidewalk, turned right, and headed for the post office. Being somewhat familiar with the area always helps, and I knew that if I followed the sidewalk down to the big steam engine, the post office would be right behind it. After getting the packages on their way, my next stop was the Our Community Credit Union. I had asked the wonderful helper at the Mason Transit call center if she knew where the office was. She responded, “Sure do! It’s right across the Safeway parking lot — I can see it from my window.” How awesome is that? My final stop for the day was the transit center to catch my ride home.

Now, here’s the reason for my writing.

After mailing the packages, I needed to continue down the sidewalk toward Seventh Street. This is where technology failed me. Who knows why — it just stopped working. As I turned right at the bottom of the post office stairs, I reached the end of a sidewalk but knew it wasn’t the right one. I stood there, trying to figure out what to do next. On my left, I noticed some striped lines but nothing directly in front of me. I wasn’t sure if those stripes led into a street.

As I stood there, a voice from my left asked, “Do you need some help?”

Using my most relieved voice, I answered, “Yes! Where do those stripes lead?”

She replied, “They mark the entrance to the post office parking lot. Where do you want to go?”

“I need the sidewalk along Railroad Avenue,” I said.

She then asked, “Can I help you get there?”

“Wonderful!” I responded. As she reached to take my hand, I asked, “If you could give me your right elbow, I’ll follow you.” Off we went.

Turning right onto the sidewalk, I headed for Seventh Street, where I knew I needed to turn right to reach Safeway. I planned to go one block past Safeway and take another right to get to Our Community Credit Union.

At that street, I did turn left but couldn’t locate the credit union. Once again, I found myself standing there, trying to figure out what to do next.

Another young man (when you’re 82, everyone is young!) approached and asked, “Do you need some help?”

Again, with relief, I said, “Yes! I’m looking for the credit union.”

He smiled and said, “You’re close! It’s just two doors down. Can I take you there?”

Not only did he guide me to the credit union, but he also took me inside and got me in line. What a great help!

After finishing my transaction, a credit union employee asked where I was headed next. I told him I was going to the transit center. He kindly took me outside and pointed across the Safeway parking lot, saying, “It’s right over there.”

Oh my, I thought, that might be dangerous. I decided to take the longer route — walking to the corner and around Safeway instead. Well, I must have missed the corner because I walked for quite some time before realizing I was lost. I stopped, trying to figure out what to do.

Then, another young man (even younger than the last) pulled his car over, got out, and asked, “Hi there! Do you need some help?”

“I sure do,” I replied. “I’m looking for the transit center office.”

“I’m not sure where that is,” he said, “but let me grab my phone, and we’ll Google it.”

After checking, he told me, “It’s three blocks down and one block over.”

I asked, “So where am I?”

“You’re right across the street from the courthouse,” he said. Boy, was I lost. He then walked me to the correct street before heading back to retrieve his car.

Three wonderful helpers!

And then, it happened again on Friday, March 14.

As usual, I had a few things to do in town, starting with a haircut at Studio 125. The amazing Dial-A-Ride bus driver walked me right up to the door and helped me inside. Not only did I get a haircut, but I also had my beard dyed green for a special Lions Club meeting on Monday the 17th.

After my haircut, I had a couple of hours before my daughter picked me up, so I decided to try one of Domino’s new stuffed crust pizzas.

Off I went down Railroad Avenue to First Street. I turned left and crossed Railroad, then turned right to cross what I call the “Indianapolis Speedway” (also known as First Street).

I found the crossing button, but all it told me was, “Wait, wait.” Then, it only announced it was safe to cross Railroad Avenue — it never mentioned First Street.

There I stood, hesitant to step into the “speedway,” when a very young man asked, “Excuse me, do you need any help?”

There it was again — another great helper in Shelton.

“Yes,” I told him, “I’m headed for Domino’s.”

“I can help you get there,” he said. “I’m on my way, hanging posters for a high school talent show on the 28th.” Then he said, “Let’s go, it’s safe,” and off we went across the street.

After ordering my pizza for later pickup, I decided to return to CJ’s Corner to grab a bite to eat while waiting for my daughter. I walked to the intersection at First Street and Railroad Avenue, but for some reason, I couldn’t find the crosswalk post or the painted lines.

Once again, I found myself standing there, unsure of what to do. A man in a white car, turning onto First Street, rolled down his window and asked, “Do you need some help?”

Before I could answer, a sweet voice from my left said, “Can I help you get across?”

Rescued again by another wonderful Shelton citizen!

“Of course,” I said, “but that fella …”

She smiled and interrupted, “He’s pulling away now, seeing that I’ve got it covered.”

Then she said, “Let’s walk down to the corner to cross.”

Huh. Maybe that’s why I couldn’t find the crosswalk post or lines — I wasn’t quite at the intersection.

As we waited for the light to change, I asked, “What do you think of my green beard?”

She laughed and said, “I like it! What do you think of my blue hair?”

“You have blue hair? What a pair we must look like — an old guy with a white cane and a green beard and a young gal with blue hair!”

That’s my thankful story. With a heart full of gratitude, I want to send a big thank you to all the wonderful helpers in Shelton.

■ Bill Scholl, aka “Ole Bothersome Bill,” lives in Shelton