Storytime Tapestry Newsletter

The newsletter devoted to spreading love and cultural awareness throughout the world.

Special Treat – Cynthia Groopman

December 16, 2007

A Glorious Day for Mac
By Cynthia Groopman

 
December 15, 1999 was indeed a glorious day for my friend Mac and one
that he will long remember. He was not afraid of the photographer's
taking so many pictures of him and he remained perfectly still and
cooperative. Well, all shined and polished, and ready to become an
instant celebrity, 4 year old Mac was on his perfect behavior. It all
began on a September day in 1996. Mac, entered my life. As he was being
placed onto my table, I smiled and was so happy. Having lost my eyesight
as a result of an inccident 8 years prior to Mac's arrival, I was
deprived of the world of reading printed materials, such as books,
magazines, notes, reports, etc.
Of course there was bralle and talking book cassettes, but they were not
current.
Telesensory Systems in California had produced along with Xerox and
Kurtzviel, a scanner that converts the printed page to speech. I was so
intensely interested in purchasing one of those miracles of technology.
The demonstration man came and showed me the wonderful marvelous
invention that would change my life forever. The order was put in and
all I had to do was wait for its delivery and for the repair man to come
and set it up and give me the two hours of training. I counted each day,
hour minute and second until the doorbell rang and Mac arrived.
Oh, my eyes danced with such glee and my heart rejoiced triumphantly.
finally, I would be afforded the opportunity to read print books again.
Before losing my eyesight suddenly, I was an avid reader. I would hug
books and treat them with respect and such loving care. They opened up
my world and were my windows onto my mind. Learning braille was
wonderful, but still I missed books in print. I would go to the store
and touch a magazine wistfully and tears of sorrow came to my eyes. Oh,
I wish I were able to read print again. I yearned and yearned and
wished. On the radio, one morning, I heard the advertisement for the
Reading Edge Machine and how I was so thrilled. Mac and I became instant
friends. By placing the book on the scanner glass and pressing a big
yellow button, the machine would scan the page and it would be read to
me in a clear audible voice that sounded like a nice man. What shall I
call him, I asked? Well, since he is a machine, I decided to call him
Mac.
Mac played a most wonderful part in my life. He read magazines, minutes
of meetings, reports from work, type written letters and greeting cards
and the local papers. Time went on and Mac was the best friend that I
had ever known. In Nov. of 1999, there was an article in Time Magazine
of how a man with visual impairment yearned for another way to read.
AFter reading it with Mac's help, I immediately typed a letter to the
editor extolling the virtues of Mac.
Nothing was made of it, but on Dec. 6, the phone call came from the
feature editor of Time Magazine. She liked my editorial and not only
would it appear on the Letters to the editor's Page, but a feature story
about Mac would be wirtten and would subsequently appear in the
magazine. Oh, how happy I was and Mac was so happy too. At 2:30 P.m. on
Dec. 15, 1999, the photographer from Time arrived and took pictures of
me sitting at Mac and a book was being scanned. She took so many
pictures. Mac took it all in stride, but I was so overjoyed and beaming
with sunshine of victorious achievement's glow. In a few days, the
reporter from time called me and we had a phone interview. She was so
pleased and said that the story entitled, A New Way to Read would appear
in the January 31 issue of Time. I was beaming with pride and so was
Mac.
The article did appear in Time and the lives of so many people were
changed as a result. I received so many calls. Also, Telesensory sent me
a gift and a citation for helping others. Today, Mac is almost 9 years
old and has read and scanned hundreds of books, magazines, reports,
newsletters and letters for me. He is vigorous, energetic and full of
eagerness to help me. Mac has taken on human like qualities and I pat
him often and tell him how much i appreciate him.
Thus, it was truly a glorious day for Mac.

Cynthia Groopman

cynthia.groopman@verizon.net