MY BERRY VINE.

It is Sunday morning. The Sabbath. The day of rest. So maybe this will be a hallowed day and I will not mess it up in any way. But I won't count on it. Even my craziness can't mess with the gorgeous weather we are having. I know I say everyday its beautiful, but it is. I found one red amber leaf on the ground yesterday that had drifted from Saul. I scanned both trees in hopes of seeing the bright orangey red of the leafs that hopefully will adorn them both. Not yet, but soon I hear them whisper, soon.

I started yesterday morning with great anticipation. I was going rummaging. The weather was perfect. I had a few dollars in my pocket. Who could ask for anything more? The day started down hill pretty quickly and seemed to progress as time moved on.

Now I would like to go on record as saying low vision does not mean mental retardation. Contrary to some beliefs. Now I will be the first to admit I am dipsy. Okay maybe a little more than dipsy, maybe more like nutty, but I am a smart nut. At least that is my opinion and the only one that counts with me.

I went rummaging with my friend Joan and her friend Marylin. Joan I have known most of my life, Marlyn I just recently met. Marlyn asked Joan and Joan cleared it with her for me to go. Joan has told Marylin I do not see well. Now I know as I stumble around its obvious I either to not see well or hit the bottle quite often. Marylin is patronising as if because of low vision my thought process has been affected. She talks down to me. Acting as if taking a poor low vision lady on a excursion sets her up to be Mother Theresa. Of course after this morning she may have legitimate cause to believe I am a little slow.

We were at this huge rummage. People and rummage everywhere. The sun beating down so bright everything was fading away big time. I stopped in my tracks. Maybe I needed to go back to the car. I could hear Joan's voice. I did not see Marlyn. I looked ahead. Red car. We came in a red car. Whoop, whoop. I see someone sitting in the red car, reading a newspaper. Marlyn, the car will be unlocked. I started around the car to get in the back seat. My hand on the door. My phone rang. The Emperor. I pulled out my phone with my left hand, using my right to open the door. Just as it opened and I said hello into the phone .I heard a yell from the front seat. The exact same time I heard Marlyn yelling four cars up the street. "Billye, Billye, I'm up here."

The poor man, yes I said man must have thought that some crazy, bleach blond lady was trying to car-jack him. I hope the man got over his scare. I started walking rapidly up the street, not being able to see blue blazes as the sun beat into my eyes. Marlyn acted like I had embarrassed her to death. She repeated the story to Joan who hadn't even known it happened and it embarrassed her. I rode the back seat of shame until we came home.

Oh but the story isn't over yet. When I went to get out of the car, nobody asked me to church this week. I think they had quite enough of the blind lady. I struggled with my sacks and just as I went to shut the door Joan screamed. I swear I jumped a foot. "You," she accused, "Have my berry vine." I looked at my sack. Determination flooded through me. "This woman wasn't getting my berry vine on top of all my humiliation. I grabbed the sack tighter against my bosom. "This," I spit out, "Is my berry vine." Marlyn I must admit did speak up. "No Joan," there was two berry vines. Billye bought one too." Me and my berry vine went into the house.

Joan called later to say she was sorry. She checked her bag when she got home and found her vine. The scars I carry remain. Poor old low vision woman, who tried to high-jack a car and steal a plastic vine. I sincerely doubt I will be going to any more rummage sales in the near future.

I am turning around here at the one light in Blogland. Its time to make my trek back to the real world again. I am humming as I go. And singing a little too. "Don't get around much anymore." I have my berry vine around my neck. I hope I look okay. I've suffered much pain and anguish over this vine, so I'm wearing it. But for now, I'm outta here.