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| View From The Steps of The Monastery Church- July 14, 2013 Imagine this scene: A blind man takes his wife to the eye doctor and as she is having her check-up, the doctor asks if the man would like to have his eyes checked out also. "I think you will find I am blind", the man playfully says, but allows the doctor to examine him. Upon completion of the exam, the doctor pauses and said, "I think I can make you see". Well... There are certain books that you read in your life that you instantly forget, others that will never leave you. The book, "Crashing Through: The Extraordinary True Story of Risk, Adventure, And the Man Who Dared To See" by Robert Kurzon is in the latter category. It is the true story of Mike May who was blinded in a childhood accident at three years of age. His mother was an incredible woman and insisted that he become used to his loss of sight and that it should not hamper him in any way. Mike May "crashed through" his childhood enduring many bumps and bruises. To say that he became an overachiever is an understatement. Amazingly, he rode motorcycles, broke world records in downhill speed skiing, joined the CIA, became an inventor and successful businessman. He was also quite popular with the ladies! He married and had two sons. In 1999, when the doctor explained that with the new stem cell surgery available to him, it was possible that his vision could be restored, you might think that Mike May would jump at this chance. Actually, it was a big decision for him, since he felt that he could already "see".  Once his vision was restored, Mike May felt there were a couple of things he truly wanted to see - a beautiful panoramic view and...wait for it...beautiful women! I had to laugh since, after all, he is a man! Also, I remember that once his sight was restored he knew, for the first time, the meaning of the word "sparkle". (How would you explain "sparkle" to a blind person?)  |
Haha. I thought the problem was my iPad.
ReplyDeleteThe thought of not being able to see is a terrifying one.
First thought off the top of my head of beautiful places were the waterfalls at Niagara Falls and Yellowstone, the Swiss Alps, and the other majestic mountains I have seen. The view from the top of Mt. Arbel in Israel. Also the ocean. There are so many beautiful and breathtaking things on this earth, I could go on and on.
I see the young woman in the pic and had to stare hard to see the old woman.
Thanks, Connie, I figured it out. I was still in the "caption" mode so I had typed all that as a caption! The only thing I could think to do, shove everything on the right to be bottom of my blog. Oh well!
DeleteLove your beautiful sights, so much we can see and appreciate!!
The most beautiful sight I ever saw was my first glimpse of my university's buildings and spires as the car I was riding in rounded a curve in the road. To me, it meant freedom and the beginning of my true life, finally.
ReplyDeleteThat's wonderful! Thanks for sharing that!
DeleteI also remember seeing the campus of Berry College when I was 18. I didn't go there but the campus was so beautiful that I have never forgotten it.
I've got to say that seeing my first newborn babe was probably the most wonderful sight I've ever seen. Followed by all the rest. But you know there is such beauty all around us that I'm thankful I do have my sight and take the time to look.
ReplyDeleteSeeing your newborn baby is the most wonderful sight ever, I agree.
DeleteI am grateful for my sight, and I search out beauty at all times!
The Swiss Alps. Hands down.
ReplyDeleteHey Mimi!
DeleteDo you remember the big lead in advertisement at the movies for "The Sound Of Music"? I fell in love with those mountains and I have never seen them! (Filmed in Austria, I know, and even though I have never been there, I feel as if I have!)
Oh my gracious! My mind is racing and I can't choose what is the MOST beautiful sight I've ever seen. My newborns weren't exactly beautiful anyway... more wondrous, I'd say. My daughter was pretty red and wrinkled. My son was a little gooey since he was born in the elevator and we saw him before he was cleaned up. However, it was a miraculous feeling to see them. That is very true. :-)
ReplyDeleteOh dear... now it's going to nag at me. We just saw Bryce Point. That was incredible. The cherry blossoms in Japan? Keukenhof in the Netherlands? Butchart Gardens in Vancouver? Cappadocia in Turkey? Pamukkale in Turkey? Yellowstone?
Ahhh... I know. I loved seeing Glacier National Park's Apgar. Waking up in the morning and stepping out to see that Lake McDonald. Wow! That took my breath away.
My nephew, Shawn was blind from birth. I've talked to him several times about how it feels. I'm always amazed at everything he can do without sight. He happens to be a professional musician and singer. He even cooks! I know another young woman who is blind and puts on her own make-up and creates jewelry. The human spirit is astounding.
Thank you for sharing these beautiful sights with me!
DeleteNow, you should tell me your nephew's full name so I can look him up! Hey! I found him! I found him playing Folsom Prison Blues and here is the link! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TgMiidws3fQ
Wow! Cannot believe how he can play that guitar on his lap!
A few years ago we went to Alaska and saw so much beautiful scenery and wildlife..then a few months later we went to New York and I stood on Ellis Island and looked over at the skyline and the words "Sea to shining sea" came into my head and I couldn't believe how different, yet beautiful it was...and how lucky to live here and experience it! I work in surgery and one time we had a young man who had lost his sight due to an accident. We were able to restore it and to be there to hear his excitement when he realized he could see again was so moving..he's now a doctor. Miracles do happen...just being able to witness one is a blessing.
ReplyDeleteI have been to the battery of New York and looked out to see the Statue of Liberty holding her lamp aloft and looking out to the sea, one of the most magnificent sights and I am so glad to have seen it!
DeleteHow wonderful to hear the exitement of having one's sight restored. "I was blind, but now I see". A blessing indeed!
What a blessing sight is to us! Vision and also inner sight- the things we see in our minds eye. I love that picture and I have seen it before. The first time I saw it was amazing. My mind kept flipping back and forth at a quick pace seeing the beautiful woman one minute and the old crone the next. The mind is just an amazing thing, isn't it?
ReplyDeleteThe most beautiful thing I ever saw-was the birth of my first grandchild (daughter of my daughter) as she came into the world-nothing quite like it-even better than seeing my own babies...xo Diana
Of course, we know how beautiful the kids are in your family, so that HAD to be the most beautiful thing for you!!
DeleteNow, I've got to think about this one, Kay. So I'll be back later when I've had mty think!
ReplyDeleteI've thought - Stonehenge on a misty morning; the first time I saw the first girl I fell in love with; leather bound books; the births of my children; The Langdale Pikes (mountains in the Lake District); the view from the summit of Blencathra (also in the Lake District); Kilt Rock on Skye and the waterfall that goes over the cliff; seeing my daughter marry; Audrey Hepburn in 'Breakfast at Tiffany's'; so many, many thuings I am grateful for having seen...
ReplyDeleteI have always wanted to see the Lake District, Beatrix Potter being one of my earliest influences. I recognized some of the flowers in England the first time I saw them from her books...
DeleteHave you ever been to Avebury? Just wondering, it is one of the places that is very special to Richard. (Can't remember, I might have asked you before!)
So many daily sight to be thankful for every day, Kay, the best for me is to see the sunrise and of course all the many other wonderful things each new day brings, no matter where I am whether traveling or at home. And to be able to read as it's one of my favorite pastimes.
ReplyDeleteSunrises are so beautiful! Sunsets are written about so very much, but give me a gorgeous sunrise and the promise of a new day!
DeleteThis sounds fascinating and our library has a copy which I've put on hold. I'm still thinking of all the beautiful things I've seen in my life. So much beauty in this world if one only has eyes to see. (And of course, the eyes need not be our physical ones.)
ReplyDeleteI always see the old woman first and have to struggle to see the young girl. Her ear is so eye like and we are programed to spot eyes. A friend worked on neonatal preferences in vision research probably more than a quarter of a century ago.
Let me know what you think about it after you've read it!
DeleteThere is quite a bit to think about as you are reading this book, so I couldn't race through it like I do most of my reading!
I love this post. Kay, I would say when I saw the golden gate bridge or lady liberty...I loved seeing things I read about as a child. But the things that are fused in my mind are things like my g.son Jake's first hair cute and his red curls blowing across the lawn, as his mom cut his hair outside. I almost cried. Another g.son running to first base as I yelled"run Skylar run!", he looked at me smiling ear to ear. I think I'll get this book...I would enjoy it. xoxo,Susie
ReplyDeleteThanks, Susie! And thanks for sharing your favorite sights with me. The red curls blowing across the lawn and Skylar running to first base, I can just picture them!
DeleteLet me know if you read this book! xx
Wow, this sounds like a fantastic book - thanks so much for the recommendation.
ReplyDeleteMy most beautiful sights - they would fill a book of their own. Some involve mountains: Lake Tahoe seen from a ski lift, Rocky Mountain National Park in Colorado, Mt. Shasta. Others are in England: St. Paul's from Waterloo Bridge, the Abbey (inside and out), Golden Cap as seen from Lyme Regis, the ocean sparkling at the foot of Silver Street.... And many of the most beautiful sights are taking place every day, all around us. :)
I haven't been that many places in my life, but Colorado and England, are among them and some of the sights in both places are most memorable indeed!
DeleteLike you, I love mountains! I have seen Lake Tahoe and I thought it was one of the beautiful spots in the USA!
Your review is very good and makes this book sound so worthwhile – I’ll see if they have it at the library. After seeing your photo of Arabia Mountains I think I’ll try to go there in August - we have no trips plans and have never been there.
ReplyDeleteLet me know if you read this book!
DeleteNow, Arabia Mountain in August. This year has been a bit cooler so it might be okay, but honestly, I would wait until September when the YELLOW DAISIES are in bloom!!
(They are not sure where Arabia Mountain got its name,but they think the men who worked in the quarry called it that since it was "as hot as ARABIA"! They could only cut the stone in the hot summer.)
Also, there would not be many wildflowers in August! And the Yellow Daisies in September and October are breathtaking!
Go back in my blog and look at those months and you will see what I mean!
Thanks for your comment, hope you don't think I don't want you to see Arabia Mountain, but the thought of you JUST missing the Yellow Daisies would break my heart!! xx
Well you have sold it to me, Kay. I was wondering what to read next, so I have just bought it for my Kindle.
ReplyDeleteThat field of poppies I posted about recently was pretty special, but I find I often stop and feel overwhelemd by the beauty around me when I am out walking. Our sight is a very precious gift.
That field of poppies!!!! I don't blame you for bit for calling that pretty special, typical British understatement!!
DeleteLike you, the things that I see when I am out walking are sometimes just overwhelming to me and I just know I have to share them. (Quick, Richard, get a photo of this!!)
What a most excellent day to stop by and get a good book recommendation! Lucky me.
ReplyDelete**kisses**
Deborah
Hey Deborah!
DeleteSo good to see you here! Now, let me know if you get a chance to read that book, it is very interesting!
My love to your sweet hubby!
xx
After having read your question I decided that life is just too full of beautiful sights to even start listing them and, in any case, I am fortunate, when living in Eagleton, to look out every hour of every day I am there at one of the most beautiful sights I could wish for. One of the other ones that immediately sprung to mind, however, was the first time I saw the Langdale Pikes in the English Lake District and the first time I saw the view of Skiddaw from the Watendlath Road. Then I read the comments including, of course, CJ's (Scriptor Senex's) list. It demonstrates just how important the Lake District is in both our lives and how, in some things, we are just so alike.
ReplyDeleteAh, yes, the Lake District, I do so hope to see it one day!
DeleteBrothers! They have two of them and they are very much alike too!
I mean that I have two of them!! This is what I get for trying reply to comments in the morning!!
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ReplyDeleteI will buy this book on my Kindle. He sounds truly amazing to have accomplished so much while blind. BTW, I see only an old woman. Lol.
ReplyDeleteCan't you see the young woman yet? She is wearing a hat and looking over her shoulder to the right...now can you see her?
DeleteLet me know if you read this book! xx
Dear Kay, that sounds like a fascinating read! I often am grateful for my sense of sight and I remember seeing some views where I felt in that moment my life was complete - such beauty! One of the many examples is the view across the Smoky Mountains. Simply breathtaking! xoxo, Silke
ReplyDeleteHey Silke!
DeleteI love the way that you look at the world, you show us that through your art!
And I so agree about the Smoky Mountains. As a little girl, I lived in Cleveland, Georgia and I loved looking at the mountains on the horizon.
Hope you are enjoying your summer and creating some wonderful art!