Picture dates!%#@#@%&^^*^**

For some strange reason the date on my camera got reset, they were all taken at the same time. Sorry for the confusion, and Beth "Half Runner" you look marvelous as do you Debbie "Mary Poppins" and Phyllis "Pochahonas".

I stepped on a sound!!!

For many years, I have hiked to LeConte Lodge in the Great Smoky Mountains in near silence. Once I wore hearing aids and had a frightening experience with a jet that sounded like a bear to me. My aids had over-amplified an already loud and too close jet (I was at 6,593 feet altitude - the jet, at maybe 6,800 feet (way to close)). The aids did nothing to very little, in the way of helping me understand my hiking buddies. After that, I gave up on hearing my friends when we hike. Once we arrived at the lodge I could face them and speech read until night fall; the rest of the evening would resemble scenes from the "Blair Witch Project". (I would have to have a flashlight shining on their mouths).

Ok, I understood I was missing out on conversation but I had no idea I was missing so many wonderful sounds of nature. I did two hikes to the lodge this summer, one week apart. The first trip was with Mark, Matt, the Whites, a bunch of Matt's friends and Hurricane Dennis. Dennis showed up for the last leg of our hike, the steepest 2 miles of a five mile trip. The hike was rich with new sound experiences; birds, mountain streams and water run-offs. I loved being a part of the chit-chat in our group as well as descending hikers. When the rain started I suited up to protect my processor (hat and poncho)then I heard the rain "splatting" on the brim of my rain hat. It sounded so great and I was washed in memories of my childhood.

My next trip was with "the girls", Beth joined me for her first stay at the lodge. The sound that stood out to me the most, was the sound of my own steps. The stones under my boots, the squash of the earth & water under my feet, no matter where I stepped.... I just kept stepping on sounds! :~) It's amazing to me how much I forgot about sound and what makes it. There is a rock cliff where red squirrels come for handouts and I was able to hear their chatter! Evening at the lodge is rich with sound, from the noisy dining room, the roll sounds of the wooden rocking chairs, to the slam of the screen door and the squeak of the swing. I am delighting in all this familiar newness.

After our hike, Beth and I stayed a night in Cobbley Nob. The next morning I was up early on the porch reading, when I heard what sounded like a snake moving over the ground and to my surprise my ear was right!

Another trip to New Orleans

I am still having so much fun hearing. I have the most wonderful big sister and brother-in-law, who open their home to me and the kids when ever we ask. This trip we brought along one of Matt's friends, Alex. The boys are so into their music and jazz that we had to show them the musical side of N.O. This gave me more practice with my ci and I have found the more distance I put between myself and the band the better. I am enjoying it a little more but still hoping for additional improvement.
Denise and I had the best time, talking and being girlfriends. We stayed up late whispering and telling secrets! There where a few times I was to soft for her to hear, the whole while I am hearing her beautifully. One night we were in the Quarters and stopped to see a street artist playing tunes on wine glasses. He played "When the Saints go marching in" and "Rocky Top" (for Alex our Vols fan!). Denise had to tell me what he was playing but I was able to hear the sounds even if I could not decipher the tune.

Star Wars

We just attended an opening day showing of the new Star Wars movie. It was so good to hear it, there is a animal in it that sounded like a sick turkey to me, when I asked Mark what it sounded like to him, he said the same.
This past weekend we went to a lake cabin and I really enjoyed all the sounds of nature, mostly the night sounds. I heard a few different frogs, crickets and many birds, it was a wonderful time. We stayed outside way past dark and I could still hear to converse. I also bought some CD's of old radio shows, "I love a mystery" and family classics, which we listened to. I understood some and hope to listen to them more as a form of auditory training.
Today I went to Maryville to have lunch with a new friend who is on the road toward getting herself a cochlear implant. Laurie is so excited and it's been fun to remember myself at that stage. I pray she does as well or better than I have, I know she will. She took me to the neatest little place for lunch and then a great knitting shop. Thanks for a pleasant time Laurie.

Great weekend

This past weekend I was in Nashville for the Country Music Marathon and had a great time. I discovered another really wonderful thing about being able to hear, you don't miss the elevators. Call me crazy but this has been so frustrating in the past. A few years ago, while in Atlanta, I was staying in a hotel that had lots of elevators. I think there was ten, five on each side of the hall. I of course could not hear the "ding" when the doors opened and was always turned in the wrong direction. Thanks to my ci I now know when the elevator arrives. I still have to search for which one it is, because I hear everything from the right, but that's ok. I am proud to say, I didn't miss a single elevator the whole weekend.
I was also very comfortable getting around, asking directions and staying in the room by myself. Before my ci I would have deadbolted myself in the room for fear of housekeeping coming in without me knowing. I did forget my alarm and was unable to get a wakeup call. When the processor is off I can't hear a thing, but boy I sleep good. Snore away - it's fine with me.

Now I must brag!! Beth and I started this venture back in Oct. Then, with the news of my approval for the implant I felt I would not have enough time to train and fund raise, so I dropped out. (Here comes the bragging part) Beth on the other hand, hit the ground running and has not stopped. She raised more than 1800.00 for the Leukemia Society, has lost over 55 pounds and finished her first half marathon. Way to go girl--We are all so proud of you!