When that song came on tonight on the tv. (And my mom cried and sang to it.) I thought of you, HB. I wanted to thank you and juliann that really introduced me to them. I had known "You Can Call Me Al" But I never listened<\b> to them.
There was many, many obstacles that my mother had to go through with me. (I was born deaf. Completely deaf. There aws not enough information as the deaf population increased in the 60's due to the Ruebella outbreak.) So, whenever she hears that song, (twas cute.. she was hoping my feelnigs wasn't going to be hurt..) she thinks about all of the things she had to fight and get me to be treated as equal. (I've never gone to a deaf school. Never learned sign language until the age of 17 for pure curiousity.)
But she did love the way Paul Simon did that song, even though she sorta wished Garfunkel was there. As we speak, she's digging out the tapes while I'm online searching for mp3's from them.
I just love learning new music everyday.... from people who has a great passion for them. Thanks, HB.
I'm glad you and your mom spoke. I'm a little concerned about how passionately she wanted you to be "equal" and never go to a Deaf school or learn ASL or anything, though. That makes me kind of sad.
I think the Deaf culture is beautiful. I don't think being a part of it, by going to Deaf schools or learning the language, is a hinderance. But that's just my opinion, and I know we've talked about this before.
When I was a junior in high school, my mother realized that she had done great by me, and also bad by me. I knew no one of my kind. It's almost like those movies you watch? Like when one's heart just aches and wants to reach out to find someone of the same 'kind'. Sorta like Tarzan becomes intrigued and amzed with someone from his kind. I can't think of another movie that's similar to that sort of topic.
We all heard about this Family Learning Vacation thingie in Washington, DC. So we all went up for a week's vacation. I *finally* met someone who was like me.. and she didnt' speak as well as I did, but she taught me. (That's where me being 17 came in to learn this.) They were amazed about how fast I picked it up.
Two months later after that experience, my mother sat me down and suggested I apply for Gallaudet University. I was shocked. My mother never wanted me to go to a deaf school, and here she was asking me to go to Gally. We talked about it at a great deal. She aws sorry that she had me be 'normal'. I reminded her that there's far more worse parents than her. She just wanted me to live life, not take advantage of it. I never had taken advantage of my hearing. Never. My friends would always tease me and get me into conning the teacher out of tests or out of speeches or anything just so it could benefit them.
I'm sure, like any parents, she wishes that she had changed a few things to make it alright. But, at least she knows now. The society embraces it a lo tbetter today than it did 30 years ago. Tehre wasn't that much hearing aids around. Only a few kinds. Now.. geez.. there's scores and scores of them. Different levels, fancyshamcy things, small ones big ones. YOu get the drift. Theres also *so* many aids you can get in order to live alone. SOciety and techonology has come a long way to make life somewhat easier.
*steps off the soapbox.* However, this is my own take on my life, not anyone else's who happens to know someone who's deaf and whatnot.
Ugh. That's what I get for watching Ever After and trying to think when typing. Bad. Bad.
Second paragraph is referrnig to ASL. Cindy was the name of the girl I met. She coudlnt' speak clearly, but she taught me sign language. I was seventeen at the time. *Sorries for the confusion.*
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timeasmymeasure
no subject
Date: 2001-09-21 08:41 pm (UTC)When that song came on tonight on the tv. (And my mom cried and sang to it.) I thought of you, HB. I wanted to thank you and juliann that really introduced me to them. I had known "You Can Call Me Al" But I never listened<\b> to them.
no subject
Date: 2001-09-22 07:48 am (UTC)Turns out..
Date: 2001-09-22 09:07 am (UTC)There was many, many obstacles that my mother had to go through with me. (I was born deaf. Completely deaf. There aws not enough information as the deaf population increased in the 60's due to the Ruebella outbreak.) So, whenever she hears that song, (twas cute.. she was hoping my feelnigs wasn't going to be hurt..) she thinks about all of the things she had to fight and get me to be treated as equal. (I've never gone to a deaf school. Never learned sign language until the age of 17 for pure curiousity.)
But she did love the way Paul Simon did that song, even though she sorta wished Garfunkel was there. As we speak, she's digging out the tapes while I'm online searching for mp3's from them.
I just love learning new music everyday.... from people who has a great passion for them. Thanks, HB.
Re: Turns out..
Date: 2001-09-22 09:37 am (UTC)I'm glad you and your mom spoke. I'm a little concerned about how passionately she wanted you to be "equal" and never go to a Deaf school or learn ASL or anything, though. That makes me kind of sad.
I think the Deaf culture is beautiful. I don't think being a part of it, by going to Deaf schools or learning the language, is a hinderance. But that's just my opinion, and I know we've talked about this before.
Smooch.
Re: Turns out..
Date: 2001-09-22 05:09 pm (UTC)When I was a junior in high school, my mother realized that she had done great by me, and also bad by me. I knew no one of my kind. It's almost like those movies you watch? Like when one's heart just aches and wants to reach out to find someone of the same 'kind'. Sorta like Tarzan becomes intrigued and amzed with someone from his kind. I can't think of another movie that's similar to that sort of topic.
We all heard about this Family Learning Vacation thingie in Washington, DC. So we all went up for a week's vacation. I *finally* met someone who was like me.. and she didnt' speak as well as I did, but she taught me. (That's where me being 17 came in to learn this.) They were amazed about how fast I picked it up.
Two months later after that experience, my mother sat me down and suggested I apply for Gallaudet University. I was shocked. My mother never wanted me to go to a deaf school, and here she was asking me to go to Gally. We talked about it at a great deal. She aws sorry that she had me be 'normal'. I reminded her that there's far more worse parents than her. She just wanted me to live life, not take advantage of it. I never had taken advantage of my hearing. Never. My friends would always tease me and get me into conning the teacher out of tests or out of speeches or anything just so it could benefit them.
I'm sure, like any parents, she wishes that she had changed a few things to make it alright. But, at least she knows now. The society embraces it a lo tbetter today than it did 30 years ago. Tehre wasn't that much hearing aids around. Only a few kinds. Now.. geez.. there's scores and scores of them. Different levels, fancyshamcy things, small ones big ones. YOu get the drift. Theres also *so* many aids you can get in order to live alone. SOciety and techonology has come a long way to make life somewhat easier.
*steps off the soapbox.* However, this is my own take on my life, not anyone else's who happens to know someone who's deaf and whatnot.
Re: Turns out..
Date: 2001-09-22 05:11 pm (UTC)Second paragraph is referrnig to ASL. Cindy was the name of the girl I met. She coudlnt' speak clearly, but she taught me sign language. I was seventeen at the time. *Sorries for the confusion.*
Re: Turns out..
Date: 2001-09-22 06:40 pm (UTC)I followed you just fine. I must be getting used to your text. I knew you were talking about ASL and stuff.
Parents, I think, always wish they did things differently. It's when they think that they did everything right, IMHO, that they're REALLY screwed up.