My brother and I are fourteen months apart – I am the oldest. My mother had this thing with dressing us alike – as if we were twins. Maybe it was what you did in the the late 70’s early 80’s – I mean there could have been some weird twin trend and all parents were dressing their offspring alike. There could have been a buy one get one free deal at JC Penney but the deal only worked with the same exact clothing… Who knows? Paul and I would get asked endlessly if we were twins and the explanation would take too long, “No, we are really fourteen months apart but our mother is a whack-a-do and dresses us alike all the time.” We’d have to say that a hundred times a day (exaggeration), so we simply would answer, “Yes, yes we are.” Ohhh people thought we were the cutest kids! I mean – we were! You may pick up a hint of dorkiness but we can’t help that – that is a gene passed down to us by both parents! It was a dominant gene – there was no escape! Paul and I have taken the “dork” gene and made it cool though… *wink*

Of course I have supplied pictures as proof to the madness that was my mother and her secret desire to have spawned twins. *wink* I have to add that the trend stuck with me and in high school my BFF and I would call each other at night and organize our outfits to match… We did this into our early twenties and then we finally stopped… Of course now I have two Boyz… Yep, you can see where I am going with this! I dress them alike but not all the time – and with almost four years difference there is no mistake, they are not twins. My mother still takes home the award for best representation of having twins that were not twins…

“Here comes trouble”
Oh boy – you just have no idea how true that was! (still is)

“Ride ‘em cowboy!”
Just no words…

“Where’s Vi-Jo?”
Here’s a game the folks at Knott’s Berry Farm thought would be fun to play!

It would appear that the last two photos were from the same day – but I can assure you that we wore those clothes over and over again! The “Here Comes Trouble” shirts we wore until they fell apart – we are talking years here folks! My mother is not one for sizes – if we could still wear it… years…

Oh boy, I love being home with my Boyz! I love being able to wake up nice and slow and go for a nice long walk to the local park! I enjoy walking down my street calling a friend and meeting up with her and her little baby to walk with us to the park! It was a nice morning, but then it started to get hot, and Sammy started to complain and then Jack started to scream and cry because he was tired… I am awake! We got home – finally – and Jack took a nap. Now – after shoveling food into my starving mouth – I am totally ready to go again! I do not want to be here in this house! I doubt it would make a difference which house – although, it might be less of a panic feeling if the house I lived in was one I liked… Just saying. I think I just don’t want to sit here doing nothing – day in and day out…! It’s still fresh out of school and my brain doesn’t want to start working – so writing is like totally impossible! I have tried and tried, but it’s not going to happen right now. My brain is also freaking out because I am not used to being at home doing nothing every day either! So, all I want to do is go go go! I need to gather the Boyz and head out to another park – driving at this time in the day (late afternoon) – and just let them play for a bit. Of course it’s not them itching – it’s me. They seem fine right now playing in their room and with each other.

I am also itching because I want to get out of here! I want the new chapter of my life to start right this second! Okay, maybe not right this second – but really soon! I want to move and I want to get things done fast fast fast! Too much to ask? I have been waiting sixteen years for this move! Come on – I cannot wait another minute! I am going nuts – I want things done and it seems like we get to a good point in life then *boom* there’s a nasty, painfully large speed bump… Really?! All I want to do is get on with this life – get myself out of the sand pit I have been stuck in for the past sixteen years. I want plush, fresh, moist – and I want it now! Deep breath – I am forced to wait – I know it will happen…

Pictures! Today, as I had said, we went for a nice walk to the park…

Bebe Jack Jack was all ready to go
- with his hat on, buckled in and cereal in a baggie in his lap – nothing was holding him back!

Walking down the street towards the park!
(notice all the brown – any green you might see is only an optical illusion – the human eye is trained to see grass in yards.)

Enough is enough when the temperature starts climbing and red ants start biting!
*ouch*

We plan to do it again tomorrow – maybe going to a different park in the area – who knows! We are unpredictable like that! You just never know what park Viola and her Boyz will walk to next! It is how we roll…. I am totally cracking up – get me outta here! *giggle*

The morning started late as the seniors gathered in the gym for a practice run through the graduation ceremony. Every student had a “walking partner” and a room number to meet in and get organized before walking out. My guys were first in line! We got them all lined up two by two and marched them out to the stage and chairs and sat them down. The director of graduation (Mr. Cole) talked to them a while about everything that was going to happen and then they wanted a few rows to go up and simulate the walking across the stage as an example of what to do. I walked back and up the steps with Carlos and Fabian and when they called Fabian’s name I choked up! I was able to collect myself and hold it together for the practice… The boys were not having the best time at practice. Carlos had no interest in what I had to say (interpret) and Fabian was texting the entire time…

So of course I took a picture. I was hoping for a nice shot without them knowing but they were busy being weird-o’s. After their practice we went in and got their cap and gowns and then Carlos and I went to get sushi…. yummy lunch! After dropping him off I ran home and got dressed. I was going to wear a nice little summer dress but nooooo, graduation day had to be cold and rainy! I am not complaining – just that every year it’s been hot, and I had this damn dress waiting… It’s okay, I wore black pants, and a purple and white striped shirt…*sniff, sniff* As soon as I was ready I dashed out and went to my friend’s house who lives right behind the high school. She had a nacho bar, but my nerves were too wound up for that – so I had a glass of wine and a bottle of water and we headed over to graduation!

After pointless waiting in the “Media Center” I realized what time it was and grabbed my signing partner by the arm and ran over to the room the boys were in! *oops* They were already lined up and looking sharp in their cap and gowns. Aww here they stood all ready to say goodbye to high school (and me) and go on with the rest of their lives… It was an awesome sight – but I did not lose composure. All the staff lined up two by two and we were the first ones in line. I say we meaning another Interpreter and myself – the IT person from my last post never showed up – although no one was heart broken over that! We marched out before the students and lined up on either side of the isle. Then Pomp and Circumstance started to play and my entire body started to shake and my eyes filled with tears – it wasn’t until I saw them marching toward me that I totally lost it! All I could sign was “I Love You.”

Carlos and Fabian were the first two students to walk across the stage – but before they walked I felt it my duty to embarrass them one last time! I was sitting there interpreting when all of a sudden it hit me – I had to go to the bathroom (pee) really freaking bad! I played it in my head just how much I had to drink and it was a lot! With all the excitement I had totally forgotten to hit the potty! I tried my best to hold it but there was so much that I was forced to run off and find a bathroom! Yep, I ditched them during one of the most important speeches of the night and went running around the school to find an open door… there were no open doors! The speech had ended and I needed to get back before they crossed the stage! I got back and they got ready to stand up and walk behind the stage – OMG I had to pee so bad I was going to burst! We walked behind the stage and of course we had to have a moment of silence! The moment went on forever as I tried not to pee my pants! The assistant principal gave her wave for the boys to come up, so I grabbed Carlos’  arm and pulled him to the steps…took a deep breath…climbed the steps with him and stood a second before they called his name. I patted him on the shoulder one last time as my student and he moved forward. The assistant principal and I looked at each other as our eyes filled with tears and we heard his name… She gave him the shove out onto the stage and he graduated from high school. Fabian stepped up next and I patted him on the back – again, one last time as my student. Words were stuck in my throat as I was all choked up and couldn’t say anything. The assistant principal gave him the shove out onto the stage and there went Fabian… My job here was done. I walked down the steps, looked up at Teddi standing in the corner, and remembered how badly I had to pee! Again – I ran off, well I walked this time. I found a door that had been unlocked between returning to graduation after my first failed attempt at going to the bathroom and the walking across the stage. So, we went in and took our time – I cleaned the dirt out of my shoes – the sand had already ripped my flesh *yuck* apart. I slowly returned to graduation with a new since of peace and calmness… Something had changed, something big was different and the weight of the world was lifted off my shoulders. I walked back to my seat in front of these two guys I now called “friend” and relaxed. I was supposed to interpret the names of the kids walking across the stage, but I found that I didn’t want to. I just wanted to sit – I felt like I had just run a marathon and was totally wiped out! Graduation was over and the throwing of the hats commenced – as I ducked for cover!

The tears could no longer be held back and hugging started! I hugged Fabian and I tried to tell him how proud I was of him but the words just got stuck and every time I let go of him, I grabbed him again for another hug! I think I hugged him 3 or 4 times! Then I did the same with Carlos but with Carlos I was trying to sign how proud I was of him and my hands were just as choked up! I’ll let the pictures speak for themselves….

Carlos – hug #6.

Carlos – hug #100! *giggle*

Fabian – hug #32! *giggle*

My life for the past six years has been defined by these two guys… and now we go our separate ways… Although, we will forever be pals and I will never forget them and my life with them – because it was the best! I will miss seeing them everyday… laughing with them… joking around… watching them grow… Yeah, I am going to miss them but I am happy to get started with the next chapter of my life… bring it!

Bye guys… It’s been a blast!

Fabian’s Graduation party….

So silly!

What am I going to do for a good laugh now? *laugh*

BFF – Carolina, Teddi, Carlos and Fabian!

*I Love You*
Carlos (goofy) and Lil’ CODA Teddi girl!

I wish this is what home looked like…

This just shows the power of photo shop! Scott took the picture and then played with it in photo shop and blammo!
Life is beautiful!

I have been waiting a long time for this moment in time… I met Carlos when he was a punky little fifth grader and I was a mere sign language interpreting sub. I was as scared of the kids as they were of me – but neither of us knew the other was afraid. Carlos moved up to middle school and quickly became the kid no one wanted to deal with because he was full of attitude, but I liked it and I loved the challenge of getting to know this kid and his friends. When Carlos moved to a new school district in seventh grade I found myself in a full time interpreting job -  I wrote about that in my post Capital “D” Baby – with Carlos and a couple other kids. I worked side-by-side with an Interpreter whom I loved! We got along and we were able to vent our frustrations to each other. There was this one hard of hearing kid, Fabian, in the program whom I hated – really, true 100% hate! Fabian crawled under my skin every day with his attitude and his dislike for everything! Carlos followed Fabian’s lead every time and no matter what it was whatever Fabian said, Carlos agreed with. “The sky is blue!” I’d say and Carlos would shake his head in agreement then look to Fabian for clarity, but then Fabian would say, “That’s just dumb!” Carlos’ face would drop and he’d cross his arms, sit back and say that same damn thing, “Dumb!” There was a no win with Fabian… Summer school I worked with Carlos and let Fabian fade off in the distance. Eighth grade started off rocky because I went to another school to work with another student and the other interpreter stayed to work with Carlos and (my favorite student) Fabian! By the end of the first semester the other interpreter had it with the Deaf and Hard of Hearing director’s shit and quit! I was left alone with (we’ll call the Deaf and Hard of Hearing director IT) IT and went back to work with Carlos. The district hired another Interpreter – although the title “Dumb” would be far too nice here in describing this gal. I took Carlos and Fabian on full time after dumb interpreter yelled at Carlos in class. She thought she was his mama or something – who knows what the damage is there – but interpreters are not supposed to attack the student! *hello* I put up with IT the rest of the year and told Carlos and Fabian (whom I wasn’t minding as much anymore) that I needed to quit because I could not handle working with IT. They begged me to stay! I looked into their eyes and I saw that they needed a strong person in their corner of the ring. I knew if these guys were going to grow up to become strong healthy Deaf adults – they needed me. I needed to clean up and fight off any damage  IT would try to bring in their future. At the end of eighth grade year, I promised them I would stay with them and the day they walked across the stage at graduation – I was going to quit!

Fast forward four years to twelfth grade and a few days until graduation! We made it! Together, we pushed through their high school years and we fought the IT factor and I look at these two boys and I could not be prouder! We have been through a lot together – I could probably write a novel and who knows maybe someday I will… In short these boys went from attitude-ridden, hating everything, to everyone’s favorite kids! Carlos went from hating everything Deaf (including himself) to extreme Deaf pride and loving himself! Fabian went from bad grades and not understanding who he was to the smartest hard of hearing kid in the district and comfortable in his skin! They went from not knowing who they are to being proud of who they are… The transformation of these two boys in the last four years is an awesome story and I would love to tell it… someday. I have had the best (most stressful) years of my life with them and I only hope they feel a little bit the same. They have helped mold me as well as I have them. I am going to miss them but I am happy that the time has come for mama bird to throw the babies out of the nest – go and spread your wings boys and fly!

battlestar galactica razor download free Hello world I am officially a Twitter-er! Really I have no idea what that means yet – but I have already twitted…is that a word? I hope to figure it out soon – I am just a trendy follower and everyone else was twitting…. Look for me if you are a Twitter-er as well! Screen name: Jumkins!

I went to prom May 1st – I know what you’re thinking, “My god, aren’t you a little old to be attending prom?!” Well, yes I am, but I was there as a chaperone and not a guest. My students went and so I felt the urge to spy – I mean help out. It was awesome seeing my guys all dressed up! I have been with them since 7th grade so I know most of their classmates and it was so much fun watching them walk through the door all dressed up. It was equally exciting to see all my coworkers all dressed up and I have to admit it was fun to get all snazzy myself. One of the students brought a camera – so I borrowed her camera and took pictures of my students and friends. She then took some pictures of Carlos and ME being goofy – as usual…

Yes, I realize it is not the most flattering picture but it is a great example of our personalities! When we saw that we closed our eyes we decided to go for another shot – a little more “normal” if that was at all possible…

The final result was interesting as we both made sure our eyes were open! When I saw this picture I said, “Holy shit! I look like my grandmother!” It is not the best picture of me, but I wouldn’t call it bad – although the future of my face is freaking me out a little! My grandmother was pretty and I loved her, but grandma’s face looked good on grandma… She had a large polish honker of a nose! Grandma wore it well and she was a good sport in poking fun at her own nose. The other part of her face I didn’t like were her deep sunken eyes… They were just in caves on her face! Deep dark caves! Again, it was grandma and I liked grandma’s face… (again) on grandma. My grandmother’s side of the family has this “forever young” gene and I suppose I am happy to be heading in that genetic direction… I am just… freaked out a little.

Prom night was amazing (despite my grandma face realization *wink*) and my guys were the best looking fellas there!

(Carlos “C-Dawg” and Fabian)

I am going to miss these guys! But I still have 19 more days of goofy bliss and you bet I am going to enjoy every second of it!

We went to Monterey California and did not go to the Aquarium… Take a moment to allow the shock to absorb…. Spring break week – we decided to take a trip to the beach, because I love the beach! Although, for the children there is not too much to do at the beach when the weather is cool, so we broke it up and spent half our time in Monterey and then the other half of the week in Vallejo, California at Discovery Kingdom. Saturday, April 4th we went to Sammy’s T-Ball game and right after grabbed some food and headed out for Monterey. A five hour drive – it was amazing that we didn’t need to stop but once for Sammy to potty on a tree in the mountains. We meet up with Scott’s parents at our hotel on the beach… I was in heaven! The sounds, the smells… it was amazing!

(ME w/*I love you* (signs) and the pacific)

Sunday we hit Fisherman’s Wharf and walked around all over. We then went to a pretty famous park called the “Dennis The Menace Park” designed by the creator of “Dennis the Menace” TV show. That was awesome! The Boyz got to climb on everything! Nothing was off limits – no old people yelling at them to “get down from there!” or “Don’t do that!” They climbed all over a train – no limits. There was a rope bridge they got to run across like mad men – no one yelling, “Be careful!” There was a small tree maze with a tower in the center. There were two big toys with slides and things – one for the bigger kids and one for the smaller kids. This park was really just perfect – and the kids enjoyed every second of it!

Monday we finally did something we have only been talking about doing for years – we went to the Santa Cruz Boardwalk! I was totally freaked out by the city of Santa Cruz – but that’s just because it looks scary! The boardwalk was awesome! We had so much fun spending the entire day walking around and going on rides. Sammy got an all-day pass, but the rest of us shared a ticket book – and by the end of the day we were able to use all 60 tickets and Sammy’s pass had paid for itself a couple times over! Yeah – we are the nerdy family that keeps track to make sure what we’ve gotten was worth it. There is this sky line ride thing – I don’t know the name of the ride – where you sit in a seat and it carries you up and over the boardwalk. At the end of the day we had just enough tickets to ride this contraption back to the beginning of the boardwalk. I don’t like heights, but I am not phobic about them either, so I took Jack (the baby) and hopped on! Holy shit! It was a few seconds into the ride did I realize what a bad mistake I had made! My entire body stiffened and I had death grip on Jack. I was trying not to freak Jack out so I was trying to talk to him, with calming tones – I started out saying things like, “Oh, look at the ocean.” and “Do you see daddy and Samma behind us?” I ended up saying, “Jesus this ride goes on forever.” and “Oh look – there’s the end!” After the boardwalk we needed to get some food, but not knowing the area we looked online and picked a random place on the pier next to the boardwalk…. I will not go into it because it was weird and not good.

Tuesday we woke up and got all ready for Cannery Row (where the aquarium is) when Grandpa (Scott’s father) knocked on the door announcing that Grandma had been sick all night and they think it might be food poisoning from yucky food the night before. We ended up walking around Cannery Row without the grandparents. It was really nice – it was raining so that gave me a good excuse to buy a jacket with “Monterey” on it. I found my brother a couple birthday gifts and we went to eat at Bubba Gump’s on the water! The Aquarium was jam packed! There were lines coming out of every door and up the street. We walked around and looked around, but in the end we were probably the only family that walked away without going inside. The Aquarium was not only a dry place of refuge but they had this new Sea-Horse exhibit.

We went back to the hotel and went to the beach – it was cold but damnit I was going to spend time at the beach! I spent a little more to stay in a hotel on the beach – and I was not going to waste it. Plus, it’s the beach and cold or not – it’s awesome! So we went down and played in the sand, ran from the surf and had a wonderful hour on the beach. Sammy wanted to go swimming in the pool – really in the hot tub. We ordered Chinese take-out and kicked back in our room while the Boyz watched Sponge Bob… *no comment* After, we went out to the pool but ended up having to cut it short as Sammy wanted to swim in the hot tub but the other guests were not loving that. We told him a few times that he needed to swim in the pool only, but his final escape and jump into the hot tub ended his night.

Wednesday we had to say good bye to our beautiful beach and Monterey as we headed to Vallejo. We stopped in San Jose at OSF and Scott’s mother claimed to feel 110% better (as I am sure she did). We went straight to Vallejo and checked into the hotel, then we ran over to Discovery Kingdom to get our season passes and have a few hours of fun. Thursday, grandma decided she didn’t want to go to Discovery Kingdom because she was still not feeling 100% (you do the math). Grandpa decided he wanted to go with us, so we piled into the hotel shuttle and headed over to Discovery Kingdom. When we got there Scott’s father told me he wasn’t feeling too great and thought he had the same thing his wife had. Right away I took two big steps back and told him that any time he wants to go back – just let us know. We went to the Orca show, a dolphin show and a tiger show and then we went to the kiddie play area that had a few rides. Grandpa wanted to sit down while we took the Boyz around this area. Sammy had to go potty and so we walked out and around the area to the bathrooms. After we were all done we decided to go see how Grandpa was doing and we noticed he was no longer sitting where we left him. Our first thought was that he got up and was looking for us. Then we saw the stroller was still there, and we saw a group of people and then we saw Grandpa’s shoes…. He was lying on the ground and the medic was hovering over him! Holy shit! We ran over and started asking questions about what the hell happened. It sounded like he was sitting there and got this sudden urge to lie down, so he went to lie down on the ground when two ladies tried to help him back up, but then he passed out. The ladies were yelling at the park guy to call someone or 9-1-1, but the moron just stood there and shook his head. Another park guy called the medics at the park and they came. They also called 9-1-1 so there would be an ambulance waiting. Grandpa convulses when he passes out – which makes it look like he’s having a seizure and was totally freaking these ladies out! I have to say these ladies were amazing and were right there when Scott’s father needed help – not like us in the bathroom… *wink* The Medics all wanted Scott’s father to go to the hospital, but he declined and just wanted to go back to the hotel. The really nice security man from the park drove him back. We stayed the rest of the day – at first it felt weird to go back to having fun after that, but it was fine after a little while.

Friday was our last day at Discovery Kingdom. We decided to drive over so that Sam could ride the tram – he had been begging to ride it! It was a busy morning as everyone was heading to Discovery Kingdom! The sun was out for the first time in three days and the weekend was just getting started… It was very exciting. We hit as many rides as we could and we went to the Orca show again – it was Sammy’s favorite! Sammy and Jack rode the Thomas Train ride another thousand times, and we all got to ride the kiddie coaster a dozen more times before the park closed on our last day… It was a ton of fun and I really hope we get back there soon with our season passes! We went out and got Olive Garden take-out and by the time we got back to the hotel Sam and Jack were both out! Sammy had been going swimming after we got back from Discovery Kingdom until the pool closed every night, but this last night he did not make it down – poor little fella was super tired!

It was a nice fun-filled week (but not for the grandparents) and we were a little sad that we had to come home. Saturday we packed up the car, said good bye to Scott’s parents and headed back home…

Life has its own plans and sometimes no matter what, we cannot fight that final plan. A friend of mine recently got news that his heart was not in good condition – his aorta was enlarged, “dilated aorta” was what he said it was. Around March 18th David had an echocardiogram to look into a murmur in his chest – later that day he got news that he had something called “Dilated aorta” and by March 26th he was rushed to the hospital with concerns about his health. After finding out that his heart had serious problems David started to freak out, his anxiety levels were hitting new highs and his health went downhill fast! The doctor prescribed Xanax Saturday the 21st after his wife Victoria called with concern Friday night. Yesterday, March 26th the doctor gave David news that he would need surgery April 6th. The doctor gave David oxygen to take home because David was really sick with pneumonia, and David knew it was stress that was attacking his immune system and making him sick. David’s health was really poor yesterday and the doctor decided to put him in the hospital. The doctor wanted to call an ambulance but David thought it was over the top and had his wife drive. The details between his arrival at the hospital and 2:30 this morning are not clear. Most of the information about what was happening with David I read from his blogs. Sadly I had not seen David nor talked to him since last month via e-mail. I had not seen him since last August at my son’s first birthday party where sadly I was unable to spend any time with him… David White passed away at around 2:30 this morning from congestive heart failure…

I quote from his blog download blood on satan s claw free on the day he found out that something might be wrong, “Today I walked outside – did not hit the gym- and just concentrated on nice even walking – like floating – not moving too fast – just deliberate meditation walking and taking everything in. Who knows when each day will be our last – is this the day of my departure? At some point this day will be that day. But a very strong feeling – again – no – I have much to do in this realm, I am not leaving any time soon.” Life is not fair – David loved his wife Victoria and young daughter Sara very much! David was only forty-three-years-old…

David loved music and David was an interesting fellow who was fascinated by the term “Cheese.” I don’t know what words I could use to express my sadness for the loss of a friend, but an ode to “Cheese” is something I know he’d enjoy here. I don’t know dates, but he wrote this song a while ago, and vlogged it while on a family cruse this past summer. Enjoy “Everything is Cheese” by Zook -

Everything is Cheese
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R.I.P. David “Zook”  White – you will be truly missed my friend….

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terminator 2 judgment day dvdrip download I thought I wore it on my face that I was 120% Deaf Pride, but the other day someone said to me, “Wow, you’re really into it, like capital D and everything!”  I was surprised, but I suppose I don’t go around announcing it… I wish I had. I am taking a Deaf Culture class and I am having a great time with this class! We had to team up and then pick two chapters out of our book (Journey into the Deaf-World) and do a presentation on them. My partner, Lil’ Teddi G. and I picked chapter 5 “Deaf Culture” to start off with. I hated the idea of having to get up in front of the entire class and speak! *yuck* Sure we can make a poster and whatnot – because the information was so powerful and there was so much of it that I felt we’d put people to sleep with our nervous babble.  Then the light bulb went off above my head and I thought, “Why not make a DVD?” This way there is not getting up in front of the class trying to speak and it was an awesome visual aid as well… So we did make the DVD, but we didn’t stop there, we made a music video as well! It was awesome – we pat ourselves on the back because for two gals from the middle of nowhere, we did not do a bad job!

Capital D comes from the Deaf freedom of their own culture. Hearing people still have a hard time seeing the Deaf as a culture and not as broken members of English speaking society. ASL (American Sign Language) is still viewed as an awful thing to teach any child – Deaf or hearing. We still live in an unknown world afraid to accept anything different as normal. I am Deaf Pride, I totally support Deaf-World ways and I respect their wants and desires. My uncle is Deaf and even though I did not spend a lot of time around him, he taught me one important thing – Deaf Pride! Just watching him and his friends together – he made me love it as a hearing person standing on the outside looking in. I wanted to be part of that world so badly, but I couldn’t. Of course as a young child I didn’t understand, but as a young adult I understood the unspoken words “This is not your world.” I was forever watching from the outside as amazing things happened when my uncle and his friends got together. They were nice to me, and talked to me, but there was an element – a bond I knew I would never have the chance to experience. I grew up, learned more sign language and stupidly assumed that everyone who could sign was Deaf Pride… I was terribly wrong! I went to work as an interpreter in a school district and I have seen things I never want to see or feel again as the stupidity of a hearing majority schooled children who should have been sent Deaf schools. I watched and heard as teachers, educated people, looked down on and degraded these kids. I stood back and allowed “hearing impaired” used as a description for the people I had so much respect and passion for. Then I stopped and I watched as my student struggled with the signs (supposed to be his natural language) to tell me how much he hated being Deaf. What?! I thought all Deaf people were proud of who they are… My heart shattered and I knew that I had four years left with these kids and I made it my personal goal to empower them with who they are before they graduate! I was also going to instill ASL into them – their natural language – because they were using other forms of signed language. I started educating teachers and anyone my student came in contact with about Deaf with a capital D! I will never forget the passion my uncle beamed with when he was with his friends, and I needed to make sure that these kids got a taste of that awesomeness that is the Deaf-World. This year my guys are seniors and they have become really good friends of mine – words cannot explain how proud I am of them! They have come a long way and they have accepted who they are as Deaf people! I thought I lost the harsh battle with the hearing world earlier this year when one of my students told me he was not leaving this area to find the Deaf-World and his people. I sat him down and I signed, “Here is not where you belong. You deserve happiness and a place where you belong and people all around who sign. I promise you, when you leave this place, this world and you enter the Deaf-World you will be at peace. You will look around, smile and know in your heart that you are finally home with the family you have searched so long for.” Here they have total commutation with Teddi and me – two people is not enough! After they graduate I hope to move away from here and Teddi is headed to university in southern California, that will leave them with no one. I have got to do as much as I can to free these guys from the hell they are living, from the controlling hearing people without language or cultural understand of Deaf-World. Today my student found out that a Deaf friend has been calling himself “hearing impaired” and he told his friend’s sister how wrong that was. He then topped my cake when he told her that he learned Deaf Pride through me… Wow, I did it. I, a hearing person, was able to give my Deaf student a sense of pride. I realize the Deaf-World will do the best job of showing them who they are as Deaf people, but I feel like the ball is rolling in the right direction! I want them to be who they were born to be and not who the hearing people in their life want them to be.  This morning I told them that they need to make a choice after graduation. They need to make the choice themselves, not their parents, not the hearing people at school and not not me, but themselves. They need to look into their hearts and decide if they want to go find Deaf-World or stay here in the hearing world. I truly have faith that they now love and respect themselves and they will make the right choice…

I cannot stay and save all the Deaf and Hard of Hearing students from the stupid hearing small town, but I can hope that I have touched lives and changed the way most of them think. Although, the best thing to do if you have a Deaf child is to love them for who they are, give them their natural language right away and send them to a school for the Deaf!

Please enjoy the music video – representing the Deaf world waiting for the hearing world to accept them…

“Waiting For the World to Change”

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