Day by Day: The Chronicles of a Hard of Hearing Reporter

Introduction

xiii  Introduction The short of it—I became deaf. The long of it—I learned how to cope. This learning process began when I was a child. Was it easy? No. Interesting? Yes. That is the gist of my book. I want to share what I have learned from within myself, from my experiences, and from others. All of these experiences led to my writing a newspaper column, starting in 1998. I have built my book around these columns, explaining how the writing came to life and any afterthoughts that came to me as I retyped individual columns into my book. The columns, all of which appeared in Suburban News Publications (SNP), are scattered throughout the book. Words have a power that can have a long-lasting effect. For this reason , I want my words to encourage all of my readers and let them know they are not alone. I write with the following scripture in mind, Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. —Ephesians 4:29 I gave up my personal search to learn why I had a hearing loss, once I determined there was a reason for my hearing loss. As the years passed and I continued writing my columns, what began as a coping mechanism for me turned into a mission. I wanted to learn, teach, and reach others struggling like I was, and to build a bridge of understanding between hearing and Deaf people. My philosophy has grown over the years. I believe hindsight is as close to perfect vision as I can come. Certainly many facts are jaded by the distance of memories and by what I wish might have happened in the past. Inaccuracies abound in the retelling, but it reflects how I remember things, including the sights, scents, and emotions. I love the classic movie, It’s a Wonderful Life, and watch it every Christmas. As Clarence, wishing for his angel wings, watches George Bailey’s life unfold, he imagines how he can help him. George had been selfless most of his life and had even lost hearing in one ear as a child when he saved his brother from drowning. George thinks he is worth more dead than alive. That is when Clarence comes to earth and earns his angel wings by helping George realize the many ways he has made other people’s lives better. Looking back on my life some fifty-odd years later does not offer the advantages of Frank Capra’s direction in the movie. I draw on my own memories to give you as accurate and interesting a view as humanly possible. My life is an open book now and I welcome you into my world. xiv Introduction ...