For the first time.......'sounds' silly, but.....

14 years ago

Two weeks ago, I didn't have a choice. I had been putting it off as long as I could, but that choice was out of my hands after they BOTH quit the same weekend. I HAD to go shopping for a new hearing aid, but after some research I already knew what I wanted. I have worn aids since I was 4, so this wasn't anything new, right? Well, I do hearing aids like some do cars, like options and power. And, boy, do I mean POWER. After a couple of days, I knew what I had been missing. And it amazed me and thrilled me.

For the first time, I heard the crickets in the evening after the sun had set. I can hear the water tumbling down my waterfall. And I was worried that it wasn't making much noise. I could hear my hubby talking to the dog, and they were way back in the bedroom. I heard my daughter whistling again. She was a major whistler when she was younger, and I thought she had quit. She hadn't. I heard the crows cawing in the trees while I was walking into work. I was able to hear the donkeys in the pasture, hee-hawing and they are not exactly in MY backyard. I can hear the swish of the grasses when the wind blows. I heard the rain all night as it poured down on the roof. I slept like a baby.

But, I also heard a few other things. I figured out I need to replace the ceiling fan in the living room. Sounds awful, like a meat grider eating quarters. I need a new muffler for my car, as a hot rod it isn't, and it sounds like it is farting, and a can of WD-40 because nearly all the door hinges in the house squeak and squall.

Don't ever take for granted your hearing or your sight. I am losing both, although slowly. God willing, I will not completely lose either, although I'd chose to be deaf rather than blind. I have Type 2 Usher Syndrome, but that's okay. There isn't anything I can do about it, so why worry about it. Right now, it is just an inconvenience in many ways, like tripping over things I didn't see. But, I just figure I will read everything I can, build what I can, draw what I can, and look and listen to my family for as long as I am able. I will listen to their laughter and remember, I will look at my girls and memorize their faces. You know, just in case. But in the meantime, between all that, I am busy playing in the yard, and in the pond. I am busy getting ready for hunting season and shooting my bow. And, maybe, just maybe, I will hear for the first time, the sound of a HUGE buck walking toward me through the leaves on the ground. And, when he does, I will be ready.

Vickie

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (4)

sleeplessinftwayne
14 years ago
Darlin'! I am so sorry! Lets hope the gene therapy they are working on will be to your benefit. None of the things your new hearing aid allows you to hear are silly. They are truly miracles that those without hearing problems are blessed to hear. I am hoping I can locate a good indoor-outdoor intercom so I can hear just those things at night since our house cancels them out and I miss them. All I hear now is the roar of my tinnitus at night. I don't know what I would do if I lost my sight. Even if it is getting less precise with age, color, movement and shape are my world most of the time.
I'll tell you one thing, that buck can be way too quiet if it is behind you. The deer, including the bucks used to sneak up behind me when I was working in my gardens when we lived in Wisconsin. Then they would snort at me to let me know they were there. Scare of a lifetime... They thought our place was home base and there were almost always one or more around. One morning I was late for work and ran out the door with my eyes on my purse and wound up sitting on the ground. The buck I ran into jumped almost to the top of the fifteen foot deep ravine that was our driveway. For once I got even for all the times he startled me. Sandy
hardin
Original Author
14 years ago
Oh, Sandy, that buck story is hilarious. LOL. As for an intercom system, I don't have one of those now, but did when my girls were babies. My dad made it for me. I was always afraid I wouldn't hear them, but they both had great lungs. Once, he rigged up an old school bell to my phone. It's not funny, yet it was, but the reactions of company when the phone rang, would crack you up. A couple of folks were out the door before they realized what it was.

I have been able to have the windows open all day the past week, and it is neat to hear all the noises from outside, waterfall included. I have to be careful though, cause sounds like that probably keep my husband up at night. Poor, wonderful guy. The things he will do for me.
When I first found out 2 years ago, it rattled me a little, but it is just one of those things that have to be taken in stride. I've been keeping myself up to date on the progress of research into Retinitus Pigmentosa, which is what I have, plus the hearing loss, and things look promising. Will wait and see, and in the meantime, I will walk verryy carefully. A sense of humor helps alot, and I told my daughter, who is 20, that someday she could call me Helen Keller. She said, "Who's that?" I just shook my head and laughed. Gosh, I love those girls. :)
Related Discussions
silly topic -- do you ruin shoes???
Q
Comments (38)
Thank you Annette...good tip. I forgot you could do that..when my kids were babies someone shared with me a tip...with really stubborn stains that nothing else worked with try this...liguid (or make your own paste from granular) dishwasher soap. rub into stain and the soak in the sun for a long afternoon or sometimes two days. Worked good when the kids were little..wonder if it would work on my shoes...just a caution tho...make sure it is either white..or if it is colored, it is a last resort...sometimes depending on the fabric it will bleach the area to much...not usually, but on occasion. Thank you Annette good reminder..I forgot you could do that, been a few years since stains were much on my radar. :) I don't think this is lily pollen...they are all gone now, I suspect maybe from my black eyes susans...I have carloads of them right now.
...See More
Silly Newbie Dehydrator Questions - part 1
Q
Comments (9)
1. I take the extra trays out, why would you want to leave them in? You would think they would take away from the air flow, and the more air flow the faster the produce dries. 2. bottom up, on my dehydrator the bottom is warmer. But that's just my preference, don't think it matters especially if your going to fill it. 3. The bottom of my dehydrators wash up easily, so I just let them drip, again why impede the air flow if not really necessary. I have more of a mess when I dry herbs, because you have to dry them until they are brittle and then they start breaking apart. 4. I have to agree with not mixing too many aromas, they may intermingle. This will be my first year drying hot peppers too. I heard you should put the dehydrator out of doors so as to not stink up your house. The same thing for onions. I have to agree about the manuals, I've done alot of research on the internet. Like start the dehydrator at 140 for the first hour then turn down, I don't have to pretreat fruit and they don't brown either. You may want to try small batches until you get the knack of the temp and time. Good luck My latest have been peaches...they are out of this world. Next spring try strawberries...even better.
...See More
Oh Silly, Silly, Layout
Q
Comments (7)
I love your kitchen brianadarnell! Your counters turned out great! You must be excited to almost be finished! I put the tall cabinet where it is because the door from the garage opens into that area. I am actually planning on storing things in there that are NOT used on an everyday basis. I moved the ovens down enough so they could be open and the garage door could still open without a crash! (I have two kids who come in and out without checking to see who might behind the door.) Can I ask if the cabinets on the sides of your sink are symmetrical? I know I shouldn't sweat it, but that was one of my reasons for trying to get rid of the 12 inch upper. Rosie-I never thought of that. I do find the area under a sink to be messy and not that useful. Thanks for a great idea!
...See More
This might be a silly question but...
Q
Comments (31)
Autumn, if you're asking me personally what do I think? I don't like having my ovens so low. I love my double wall ovens. But for someone with a small kitchen, like my sister, who doesn't cook a lot, it works great. The upper oven is plenty big for most items. I think it was the perfect choice for her. If it was mine, I definitely could manage and it would be doable. I've hauled 20lb turkeys it and out of it and have managed. The upper oven is plenty tall enough to bake a casserole, but not tall enough to handle a loaf pan. It was a HUGE step up from her previous 30" range with a single oven. If I was limited space wise to a 30" range and wanted double ovens, I'd definitely go this route.
...See More
sheepco
14 years ago
How wonderful they are making such strides in hearing aids. My dad hates his, and I keep telling him he needs to go back, they have better ones now, he's missing so much!

You are an inspiration, Thanks for sharing, and good luck (I'll be listening for a big buck too :)

S
hardin
Original Author
14 years ago
I don't know how long your dad has been wearing his, but they do take a while to get used to. Even though I have worn aids for years, it takes me awhile to adjust to new ones. Sometimes the fit is a little different, and new ear molds can be uncomfortable for several weeks and it takes time to adjust to the louder sounds.

They are making awesome strides in hearing aids. The digital/programables are unreal. They have Bluetooth technology where you can hear the sounds on the phone thru the hearing aids, mp3 players, and and TV's. You can go to a website where it gives you all the information. I'm not sure I am allowed to tell you which hearing aid I have, so if you want the brand name, let me know. There are alot of different brands, but this would at least give you an idea of how much technology has improved. You can even pick different colors. I got a pink one. LOL. One of the ones I had that bit the dust, I'd worn for 17 years, so I got another one, just fancier. Hearing aids should be tailored to the type of hearing loss a person has, as there are different types and strengths.

For the first time.......'sounds' silly, but.....

Comments (4)

sleeplessinftwayne

hardin
Original Author

Related Discussions

sheepco

hardin
Original Author

COMPANY

BUSINESS SERVICES

GET HELP

CONNECT WITH US

For the first time.......'sounds' silly, but.....

Comments (4)

sleeplessinftwayne

hardinOriginal Author

Related Discussions

sheepco

hardinOriginal Author

COMPANY

BUSINESS SERVICES

GET HELP

CONNECT WITH US

hardin
Original Author

hardin
Original Author