TIL: Today I Learned...
Following a plane crash in WWII my father, who was a naval airman, was hospitalized and met Helen Keller and Annie Sullivan. Annie did interpretation into sign language as Helen Keller held dad’s hand. Keller recognized people by the feel of their hands the way you and I recognize faces.
Dad’s injuries were severe and he was in a different hospital over a year later when Helen Keller and Annie toured that facility. Dad waited in a long line to see them again. When he reached the end of the line, Helen Keller took his hand and said in halting speech “Hi Johnny, how are you?”
Dad said he almost fell over. He thought Helen Keller was a walking miracle. She told him “Johnny, life is a either daring adventure or nothing at all” dad idolized her until he passed in 1984