My Auditory Status
16 Dec
My cochlear implant is broken. No, not the part inside my head–just the external, behind-the-ear processor. Luckily I think I’m getting a replacement next Thursday, couriered across two oceans by Liz, no less! It has caused a fair amount of self-questioning about my status as a deaf person–prompting me to write a blog for DeafDC.com.
Please read Deaf Identity, Interrupted. And despite the tone of this blog, I really am not a poor, tormented and hapless soul–I’m fine, really! My balance is definitely off, so navigating on the roads as a deaf, stumbling-over-myself person does make it a slightly more harrowing experience, so I’m sticking to the three-wheeler for now.
Again, you do not cease to amaze. As a hearing person I’m not sure I’m entitled to opine, nor will I try to draw analogies that cannot possibly fit –how great that Erick or Ericka or whatever his or her name is, was almost uniformly ripped apart by commentators for his bigoted drivel. You’ve obviously once again struck a chord for many, as you engage in soul searching that will indeed make you stonger and more assured in your decisions. Bottom-line, just as you have observed how eating, sleeping, battling or surviving nature (be it tsunami’s or mosquitoes) constantly remind us that we humans are simply animals struggling to survive in our envirnment, so should you choose whatever means you find avaialble to help you in your environment, and yes, to take pleasure as you do from many of those enviromental stimuli.
How wonderful of your sister to ride to the rescue; she is pretty special–we hope to see you both next month, but totally understandng if your travel situation does not permit.
Happy Chanukah!
Sheesh! Too bad, you could not let yourself experience without the use of CI much longer. So you could see the new Adam Stone yourself. I personally hope that Liz bring the wrong CI part.
The Peace Corps experience is supposed to be the non-materialism or weaken the holding to the pre-Peace Corps life.
Robert L. Mason (RLM)