 |
August 28, 2008 |
|
 |
|
|
Old and Blind
FOUND by Elie
in Ottawa, Canada
I was working for the national census last summer, opening envelopes and scanning forms. There's all kinds of ridiculous objects mailed in to the census, cause lots of folk just don't want to do it. One day I opened an envelope and where there should be a filled-out form, there's just this notecard with "92 years old and blind" written on it-- no name, region or anything. This is what this person felt was most essential to know. I thought it was the most blunt, personnal description I've ever heard, and strangely intimite. It was completely untraceable so I kept it as a reminder of how good life is.
Sign in or register to start a profile and keep track of your comments. You may also post without creating a profile, but you'll have to answer some tough spam protection questions.
The Realignment January 05, 2006 |
My Sunday Best July 26, 2005 |
One Down November 19, 2007 |
Yours in Horror August 12, 2005 |
 |
|
 |
         |
We collect FOUND stuff: love letters, birthday cards, kids' homework,
to-do lists, ticket stubs, poetry on napkins, telephone bills, doodles -
anything that gives a glimpse into someone
else's life. Anything goes...
Clearly he was responding to a Senses Survey.
If I had to fill that out right now, mine would be "48 years old and congested."
sounds like a personal ad to me
The shaky lettering would seem to bear out both claims. My MIL responded to a census taker with just this sort of thought: "Girl, by the time you compile all the papers I'll be dead. I haven't got time for this."
Also, she didn't know how to write. She left out that part.
this makes me sad
I don't see this as very sad.
I mean he/she is blind and old yes. but obviously they haven't been blind their whole life, with such well practiced handwriting.
and he/she is 92 dang years old, yet still has the physical control to write this well(despite being blind), and the clarity of thought to be able to write this, to have the idea, and ti mail it properly.
not to many people are lucky enough to make it to 92 years, and many (if not most) who do don't always have the physical or metal ability to write. let alone write purely from memory since they can't see what they are printing as in this case.
I see it as less a sad reply to the census takers. and more a sarcastic reply, "I'm to old and have better things to worry about then this stupid survey. here's all you need to know "92 and blind"
basically like the story orinoco just told.
Oh my gosh! I mean, like, you know, I'm what do you call that thing when you can't see? Blind? Yeah, and like, I had these hot flashes near Ike and, like, that other guy, and then Ashley's all "Look at her, acting like she's still in her 80's" but I'm like "how was I to know Ike was there?"
All I can say is " Awww. " I love old people. The grouchy ass ones not AS much, but still.
Awwww....My Grandma just turned 93 this past June...but she's not blind.
She has no other problems, either...Thank you Lord!
I like this FIND!
How did the 92 year old blind person know it was a census form?
I want to live to be 94.
@Monkey: your comments were hilariously funny and thought-provokingly on target, respectively.
42 years old fat and bald. Do I get anthing for that?
@Jan: I had to read your comment twice before it sunk in ("senses survey"). "He who laughs last" would apply here.
Mine would be: 46 years old and runs like new.
LOL @ FEELING!! Good one!
And mine would read...38 and feeling great!
Did I just call myself Jan? Why yes, I did. Oops.
And her husband is 89 with hairy palms. Despite everything they tried - and try they did - it turned out that they just weren't compatible.
I'm 27 and have been for years.
27 and short
27 years old and hairy.
48 and smells nice.
When i get older losing my sight,
Many years from now.
Will you still be sending me a shaky note
Birthday greetings TV remote.
If i'd been out till quarter to three
Would you lock the door,
Will you still need me, will you still feed me,
When i'm ninety-two.
(I know the TV remote line doesn't make sense, but it's all I could get to rhyme. I don't work with language much.)
... and "lock the loo" would rhyme with ninety-two
23 years old and hungry.
She must have help from her children or a husband. Either that, or is that "legally blind" category where you can sort of see, but not really enough to get by on your own b/c you can't drive.
I'm just finding it difficult to believe a 100% blind person could aquire their mail, know it was from the census bureau, fill this out, and then address an envelope to them. That would all need help to read and know where to send it. Unless they mail brail to people they know are blind?
What? Is there something wrong with being 92 and blind?
Librarian,
I thought you, like, totally lost it... and then I read the earlier Found and I quite literally wet myself.
@ Mary in Land ... that's not to say that I HAEVN'T lost it, though!
But thanks. I have this deep conviction that the two Finds each day share some sort of hidden connection that it is my job to puzzle out. Sometimes that isn't easy. But today's seemed to cry out for highlighting the vacuity of the kid by wondering how she would express the situation of the elder.
Mine would be "23 years old and goth" :P
48, fat, big boobies, big butt, not been used in a while, loves to smoooooochchchch...
Christina, a lot of older folks take stuff like this (a census) very seriously, and they fixate on it. One of the tragedies (or blessings?) of old age is the inability to sort out what is really important and what isn't. I only assume that a patient family member helped him/her to respond to the Census Bureau, and probably gave him/her peace of mind, at least for a while.
I don't feel sorry for him because he's old and blind, I feel bad for him because he's Canadian.
I'm 35 and blink.
Living what are you trying to imply? The Census is the most important piece of mail that a person gets every 10 years. The Census determines the number of representatives to Congress each state will have, it helps in deciding upon the redistricting of said reps districts. The Census helps the decision makers figure out which programs; state and national, are working and not working. It allows us a glimpse into every region of the country, what similarities we have and what differences we have. The Census was one of the first orders given by George Washington after becoming president. How can you imply that it may not be important?
Nuff said.
I love this find, it's straight to the point and very mysterious. Just the way I like them :)
Mine would say.....
15 and surviving.
Librarian,
re: I have this deep conviction that the two Finds each day share some sort of hidden connection that it is my job to puzzle out.
So in some alternate universe the earlier index card reads "14 Years Old and Nippled"?
(If so, I like that universe better. I want to live there.)
Dead and lacking taste.
mine would say...
21 ... for the past ten years
and 20/20 eye sight.... its a curse... people always expecting me to read tiny fonts for them.
ugh.
Mine would read 36 and full of bear shit....
@Holly my Grandmother also turned 93 this month. She isn't blond either.:-)
33 and slightly off.
I hate to start a sentence with a number. It goes against the fiber of my being. I just want you all to know that.
36 and overly medicated
30 and free as a bird. Finally.
92 years old and blind because I didn't listen to those guys who told me to quit, or I would go blind.
No regrets, though.
@ TURBO- You feel sorry for the person because they're Canadian?
Well, I feel sorry for MOST of the FINDERS on here, that send in FINDS from the U.S.A. because they have such a bloody, incompetent Pres.
A wee bit bigotted, TURB?
Come on, buddie! It's 2008, soon to be /09...don't be like that.
Spread LOVE...not HATRED.
Or, am I taking you too seriously?
Wow Holly! I think actual fire shot from your eye sockets! I'm fairly sure Turbo was joking (at least I took it that way). I've heard plenty of Canadians make self deprecating jokes similar to Turbo's, so um.. you can unclench now.
And most of us down here agree that our current US administration is run by idiots.
48 and emotionally unstable
@ FEELING- I apologize...I kind of figured it was a bit much after I clicked POST!
I'm calm...cool...collected.
My apologizes...to all FOUNDIANS! Especially TURBO and FEELING.
Although, your comment about the USA's current Admin. ARE run by idiots!! LOL!!
I like you Holly, but we know he sucks, we've heard all the jokes. ( and, we live here. ) It's ok, we all have a hissy fit now and then.
Off on a tangint here, but that reminds me.. did anybody ever see the sorry everybody.com site? Me and Casey posed lying down by a tombstone holding a sign that said " Died of shame. ". Good times!
The word is "intimate".
@ NOW THAT- GREAT site!! Thanks for the link!!
@ LALALA- I like you, too. I wasn't making a joke or any kind of conatation towards Americans, either.
I just thought what TURBO said wasn't necessary.
But you noticed at the bottom of my post, I stated, "Am I taking you too seriously?"
Obviously...yes!
Thanks for letting me vent!
47 years old
and
Blonde
92....blind...lookin' for love...got any?...
I love taking censuses. Any kind of quizzes or questionnaires about myself are irresistable. Is this bad?
a. No, but it's stupid
b. It's ok only if you flash Carl and Ike
c. It's awesome!!
d. None of the above.
I'm 32 and hungry, since you all so desperately wanted to know.