It Doesn't Matter What a Chip Looks Like – I Just Taste It

By Shana Ogren

On and off for the last four years, I have gone over to Peter Schustack's house to read him his mail.  Peter is a 60 year old, blind San Luis Obispo resident.  In order to learn how lack of sight affects Peter's life, I interviewed him and have included his thoughts below. 

How much sight do you have?
Peter: I lost all central sight.  I have a bit of sight on the sides, and that helps me when traveling.

Do you see color?
Peter: I touch a pair of socks to determine if they match.  I can see some color if it is under a very bright, reflector floodlight.

Can you see yourself in the mirror?
Peter: I wouldn't be able to do that now.  A long time ago.  That's history.

When did you begin to lose it?
Peter: I have never been normal.  I had glasses at 3 years old, and was declared legally blind when I went to college.

Do you miss it?
Peter: I'm used to what I have.  I'm not pining over it.  I haven't been relying on it.  It's not that important.

How does it influence your daily life?  Your travel? 
Peter: When I'm out of the house, it helps me to stay on course if it's a bright day.  When it's cloudy, it's harder to see on both sides.

Your diet?
Peter: I don't cook much.  I have little measuring cups and I use those so things are about right if I am making something.  In grocery stores, I have my worker to help me find something.  Or if I'm there alone, I'll just ask someone for their help.  I don't wander around, just touching objects and trying to find something.

When you think or imagine things and situations, do you see them in your head?
Peter: No.  Things are just experiential, not visual.  I remember what I experience with somebody, not what I see, not the visual.  It's not that important to me.  My other senses are what I remember and what I experience.  It doesn't matter what a chip looks like – I just taste it.  I hear things, smell things, and use all of my other senses.

How much independence do you have?  Control over your own life and direction?
Peter: I don't know how much deterioration will occur.  I don't feel sorry for myself.  My eyes are as helpful as they can be.  The rest of me works.  I can experience most of the best of what life has to offer, other than seeing the details.

Has being blind benefitted you in any way?
Peter: I know my life is different because of it.  There would be people I would not know if I wasn't visually impaired.  My chances of getting to know you, Shana,  would have been much smaller.  When people walk past me on the street, you see my cane, and if you are a good, caring, helpful person, you might say "Hello" as you pass me.  Or you might ask if I need help in any way.  But if somebody doesn't want to talk to me, they can just whip right on past me.  I know somebody does not need to come up to me unless they want to.  They approach me out of their own choice.  So I know if someone's talking to me, they're doing it because they want to.

What local resources do you use for help?
Peter:

1. I have a worker hired through the state, to help me with house work and grocery store shopping.  That's through In Home Supportive Services, a statewide program.
2.  I've posted for help on volunteer websites, and I used to post on a board at Cal Poly.  That's how I met you the first time.
3. Through the Library of Congress on loan, I get books on tape or CD. 
4. At the post office, I'm waived postage on sending talking books and machines.
5. I use public transportation to travel.  Sometimes I get reduced fares or no fee.
6. And I travel with a cane now.  It used to be that I would just travel with it sometimes, but now I always travel with it.
7. The Social Security Administration gives me supplemental income.
8. And the Housing Authority pays part of my rent.

Thanks for the interview, Peter.  Any final tricks of the trade?
Peter:

-Newer, bigger bills have a dark number on the back corner.  So, sometimes I can see the color enough to know if it is a one dollar bill or a larger one.
-Familiarity is what helps me more than anything else.  I've been going to SLO Farmer's Market for years, because I've lived here for years.  I see the street lights and the lights at businesses.  Then I just rely on my hands.  They're my guide.

Do you have an impression of what I look like?
Peter: Not really, not really.

Well, give me a call.  I‘ll come over to read mail next week.
Peter: It'll be good to see you again.

Ball Python Image on Banner by Richard Chambers