Thank you so much for printing “Learning Curve” by Beth Finke [Dec. 14]. During the last years of her life, my mother became legally blind from central retinal vein occlusion, caused by diabetes. For years before my mother lost her sight, I had often thought about how I would live my life if I lost mine, and this now looms as a real possibility for me.
I congratulate Ms. Finke for having the courage to learn to navigate in Chicago and for her other successes, and I take hope from her story that should blindness become my lot in life, I will be able to adapt.
Shirley A. Wilson/ Naperville
A feel-good story
On a recent Sunday morning, I was feeling bad. My bum leg was annoying me more than usual and I was having trouble with an article I was writing for a local publication; the holidays–not my favorite time of year–did little to improve my mood.
Listlessly, I turned to “Learning Curve” and began reading about Beth Finke and her Seeing Eye dog, Hani. I started to think, to feel, and to laugh.
Very cool lady. Ditto for the dog.
Christine McCurdy / Warrenville
Extraordinary courage
“Learning Curve” is one of the most extraordinary true stories I’ve ever read. I’ve always admired blind people who are courageous enough and smart enough to be able to travel throughout the city with only the aid of a guide dog. But not until I read Beth Finke’s story did I truly comprehend just how difficult and complicated a feat that is.
She deserves my admiration doubly because she wasn’t born blind. Many people who become blind in adulthood, including myself, would probably become recluses.
Gloria Kaplan Sulkin / Chicago
The real SEAL deal
At a time of year when flab expands, the excellent article on the Navy SEALS [“Sink or Swim,” Dec. 14] provided insight into how fantasy distorts reality, and how the schools really ought to be providing physical education, and left me wondering if women should not be given a chance to swim, do push-ups, sit-ups and pull-ups, and run wearing boots and long pants.
It turns out that Demi Moore was the fantasy.
Linda Landis Andrews /Chicago
New lease on life
Dixie is a 64-year-old woman from Lombard who never thought about organ donation until she read “A New Life and a New Cause” [Nov. 9]. She tracked me down by contacting Prospect High School and asked about becoming a living donor (kidney or liver). She wants to help save the life of a young parent or child unknown to her. Thank you for your wonderful contribution toward this cause.
Mark Gilblair / Palatine
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