Do you remember exactly where you were 24 hours ago? A week? A month? A year? 8 years?<\/p>\n
Let\u2019s say it was the day you got married. Or had a baby. Or your baby got married. Or had a baby. Or someone you loved very much died.<\/p>\n
It\u2019s easier to remember when it\u2019s an anniversary.<\/p>\n
Lifecycle celebrations and anniversaries are like that. But for most of us, only parts of the days and memorable, not all the details of what you did every moment.<\/p>\n
8 years ago from the day I wrote this (February 10) I was at Virginia Mason Hospital and Norman was getting his eviction notice. All day. And since I was pretty unconscious, I have pretty much no memory of the day. But it\u2019s an anniversary nevertheless.<\/p>\n
Every ANniversary (see how I did that?) I am very aware of the day. \u201cBy this time, I was doing that. By this time, they were doing that. By this time, I was in recovery\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n
It\u2019s been a pretty easy ride for me. Over the years, some stories are better, better recovery, hearing preserved, balance restored\u2026.Others not so much. I am grateful everyday.<\/p>\n
Working on balance (thank you FitnessEvolution and CorePhysio.)<\/p>\n
Still deaf in one ear (my left, in case you are keeping track) and recently learned that my ability to hear certain decibel levels in my right ear has improved.<\/p>\n
And my sensitivity to loud noises is extremely protective of my \u201cgood\u201d ear.<\/p>\n
Nevertheless, I know at some point, I may be one of those people who loses functional hearing. I\u2019ve been trying to recover my receptive signing \u201cskills.\u201d I write it that was because I\u2019m not sure if they were ever good. In a crowded, noisy place, I am lost. And what\u2019s the point of being able to sign (or at least finger spell) if I can\u2019t understand it from someone else?<\/p>\n
So, for the third time (third time\u2019s a charm, right?) I\u2019m returning to studying ASL and trying to incorporate it into my life. I\u2019ll do this on the cheap, and grab free tutorials off the internet. If I can search for anything DIY on YouTube, why not??<\/p>\n
It would make things SO MUCH EASIER for me, (and it\u2019s all about me, right?) if more people knew sign language. In my dream world\u2026\u2026
\nIf at parties, in crowded rooms meetings. the person trying to tell me a story or ask a question could sign a little bit. IT\u2019S SO HARD TO HEAR ACROSS A LONG TABLE.<\/p>\n
But OMG you can communicate THROUGH GLASS with ASL.<\/p>\n
There are a few YouTube channels that teach ASL vocabulary, (Bill Vicars, Ashley Clark Fry, ASL That) and I\u2019m now subscribed to them all, and finding new ones every day.<\/p>\n
I\u2019ll let you know how it\u2019s going.<\/p>\n
My favorite new-to-me sign is \u201cFlattery.\u201d Look it up.<\/p>\n
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So today, I share with you a few links to some beginner lessons.<\/p>\n
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Super beginner
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