Go The Distance


Last September Peggy and I helped Lauree's Mom and Step-Dad plan a surprise 40th Birthday Party for our friend Lauree.

On Sunday, Labor Day Week-end, Lauree, her mother Linda, and step-dad John invited Peggy and me to a family BBQ. Lauree lives with her Mom and Step-Dad in Whittier, CA. The house is very spacious and a perfect place to have company visit for any occassion.

They had a wide choice of food and beverages, at the BBQ on Sunday! Peggy and I arrived at 9:00 AM. We helped Lauree and her Mom with last minute preparations. The other guests began to arrive around 1:30 PM.

Lauree's Step-Dad began firing up the BBQ at about 3:00PM. We ate out on the large balcony, which has a spectacular view of the Whittier College Track. The weather was warm, very typical of Southern California. I spotted a grey bunny running free.

A few hours later Peggy, Lauree and I went into the living room to watch a football game, on the big screen TV. The teams were from Tennesse, and New York. The score was 7 for New York, 0 for Tennesse.

As I was watching the game, I began to think about the comparisons between football and hearing impairment. In football we go for the ball even though you may be tackled. You start over and hope to complete a touchdown (One for the Gipper). As a hearing impaired person, you struggle to mix into the mainstream.

To remain a good player in football you need to stay in top form. It takes great stamina to win points without being penalized. Now when you're hearing impaired you can be penalized and sometimes you're unable to compete in all phases of a complete life, due to your handicap.

After most of the guests had left Lauree picked up her Tarot cards and we all had a reading done for our entertainment. When we were finished Lauree drove us back home. It had been the end to a great day.

There was a time not so long ago, when mixing with other people in large groups would have intimidated me. I'm glad I've learned to overcome that fear and have put it behind me, now I've gone the distance.

My wish for anyone whose hearing impaired and may be feeling out of sorts is that you too will find your way to overcome your obstacles, thus learning to go the distance.

The copyright of the article Go The Distance in Hearing Impairment is owned by Jill Ann Smith. Permission to republish Go The Distance in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.

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