The Deaf

One of my favorite disabilities is deafness. Weird to have a 'favorite' disability, isn't it? When I got to college, I didn't know what I wanted to be. Since it was a private school (gasp! I know, I'll be paying back student loans until I die!), we had chapel every day. I loved chapel, the socializing, the singing, the socializing, the prayer, the socializing, yeah, you get the idea. Anyway, their were interpreters for the Deaf there. 'How cool is that?' I thought. Upon further investigation, most of the interpreters were Speech Therapy majors since they did not have Deaf Ed. I became fast friends with the Deaf people. I learned sign language. The best way...from Deaf people. It's not ASL proper, more of a pidgin type, but most of the time it gets the job done. I will be taking our state interpreters test Feb. 29th. Please pray~LOL. I've recently found some 'v-logers,' and watching them I am so discouraged because while I get the overall message, to actually reverse interpret what they are signing to make it sound like it should (a 'normal' conversation)...shameful!
*Anyway* all this blah blah is to say that I have recently 'met' Karen (maybe I'll really get to meet her someday). She's a cool lady who has run into some trouble recently. But, it reminds me (and brings me back to my point) about why I love Deaf people....Rarely do you see a one of them that isn't happy and well-rounded. I mean, for the 'disability' that us dumb hearing people consider them to have you would think that they would be "oh woe is me, I can't hear, I'll just sit here and let other people take care of me" Nope! They are happy, uplifting, funny, successful, patient, proud, strong, brave, joyous people. They remind me how lucky I am when I start to have a pity party for myself about the troubles I have. I've learned a lot from them about what is truly important and to take what you have and make the best of it. I need to be reminded of that every once in awhile, so thanks Karen, Darin, Mary Lynn, Cassie, Lacey, et al! :)