What's In a Face?

Uncle Bob sent an article written by a completely blind many who didn't understand why people always asked if he wanted to feel their faces.   The article was interesting and explained how blind people experience the world serially through their fingers, while sighted people can see a wealth of information at a literal glance. 

The writer didn't understand the need to see faces, even when he was at a museum and was allowed to feel the faces of all the statues.   It wasn't until he was part of a research project in which a feedback area on a table lifted up pegs in a grid to match the facial expression of the person he was talking to that he got an understanding of faces—because of how they moved while they talked and interacted with you. 

My daughter tries to match what we do and doesn't understand much of the time.   We tried to explain what it meant to put your elbows to your side and hold your upper arms up with your hands out.   We said it meant something similar to a shrug, that it indicated you just weren't sure, didn't know, were taking a guess.   

She tried to mimic the motion but it came out stilted and awkward.   If she could see, she would just absorb the information and know.   But she has to learn and try very hard to get something "right" that makes no sense to her. 

The Big Boy Update:  My son sleeps diagonal in his bed.   A full half of his bed was until recently covered with stuffed animals, preventing him from sleeping straight on.   Even with them reduced significantly, he likes to have his head close to the wall and his feet close to the edge of the bed. 

The Tiny Girl Chronicles:  My daughter got her converting scooter today for raising the money for her school (thank you again to all who helped her out).  She was overjoyed.  It's an interesting scooter and I think better suited to her than the standing scooters.  It converts to a sitting position.   Nana and Papa watched as she went up and down the street this afternoon after school.   The thing is fast!