rhubarb

every monday at 12:45 p.m. i call her, she says "this must be pixie" and i say, "hi, it is, are you ready?" "i'll be right out" "ok, i'm on my way" and we hang up. i drive no more than two blocks up hill mostly, pull into her driveway, just over the sidewalk where she usually is waiting right by where the door will open on her side. she has already found her purse, is dressed in something that is easy to take off (and not pull over her head). she has her shoes and glasses on. now most people would not blink an eye at most of these things and she wouldn't know if you did. she's had macular degeneration for at least the past 30 or so years. she only has peripheral vision on the sides and top and bottom. she does everything by feel and has been living in her little apartment alone for the last 17 years. and for about the last 4 she has been coming to my salon to get her hair done. she cooks for her self, and she is chairman of the board at her senior citizen center, where she goes every tuesday. she has a volunteer driver pick her up on for her activities during the week, which besides her hair appointment and senior center, she goes , to the blind center on wednesdays where she does ceramics and crochets. she always says to me, "isnt it amazing?" even she herself is amazed at all the things she can do. she made cookies for one of her activities the other day. when she was done, she realized that the bandaid on that was on her finger when she started, was no longer there. not wanting to make another batch she swept the floor, and combed over every surface and in every container. when she couldnt find it elsewhere, she threw the cookies away. she has a cleaning lady who comes once a week, but before the cleaning lady gets there, my friend washes the windows and cleans out the fridge. she realizes that she probably doesnt do the best job possible, but it embarasses her that someone would see her house messy. she tells me that she can see white, but even though her hair is white, she cant see it. i think she is amazing too. i will tell more stories on her later.