funtobealive

yesterday i was waiting for a bus on the street, and suddenly somebody bumped into me from the back. as a true funtobe my instinct was to turn around annoyed and to scream at the person who so clumsily pumped into me. but when i turned i realized it was a blind person. and not only blind, but actually a relative of mine. it was my uncles ( adopted ) son.  i was cheerfully calling his name- “shlomi, how are you?” , but he said- ” no, I’m not shlomi, I’m shahar”.  at first i thought i was mistaken. but he explained he changed his name. what an amazing story he has- he works for the army radio broadcasting network, and completely self sufficient.  as a child i used to see him quite often at my grandma, and i remember he used to scare the shit out of me. he could always tell I’m in the room, even when i tried to be as still as i could.
we happened to take the same bus together, and this really killed me- in Tel Aviv even with perfect i sight it is hard enough to know where to get off the bus, so as a blind person it is on the verge of impossible. ( we do not have those neat announcements for each stop…). but my cousin new exactly where to get off with out asking anybody.  i should have asked him how does he do that, but i didn’t. well, since the radio station where he works is just around my corner, i might be bumped into again, and have a second chance to ask.