Hello all,
It's been a little while since my last post. The last several weeks of school are always crazy with so many things going on. I went on a school trip, which I will mention in a minute, my daughter graduated from 8th grade then went on a cruise to Bermuda with her grandparents, and I have been searching for summer work since the school eliminated the transportation department - I was going to drive a bus or the summer camp.
Anyway, I will try to catch up on a few interesting items since my last post.
As I mentioned, I took a group of 7th and 8th grade students on a trip to the Grand Canyon and other parts of Arizona and Nevada. I had done this trip before but this time my daughter got to go. For some reason I thought getting through airport security would be easier. All I had to do was show my card indicating I had a medical reason not to go through the metal detectors and they would just wand me and send me on my way. Actually, they call extra security and I have to do a full body pat down. I also have to unpack all my cochlear gear that should not go through the detectors and give it to them to inspect. So although I usually went to the front of the line, I was still one of the last ones in our group to get through security. Everything else about the trip was fine and we had a really good time. I enjoyed using my ipod on the long flights. (See a previous post about my ipod usage back in December). The Colorado River float trip was probably my favorite part.
This years High School graduation was particularly special. The senior class asked me to speak which I accepted. I have known many of this group since their elementary years as teacher, coach, and advisor. This group also welcomed me back to school after my surgery with open arms. They visited me at home and kept me at ease as I transitioned to my new hearing, and so I will always remember them and be grateful for not shying away from me. (Giving the speech was of course nerve racking but I made it through and recieved many compliments. Despite the CI being more visible I am actually more confident to stand up and speak now!).
Everything else is going well. My wife's parents came up from Florida to take my daughter on the above mentioned cruise. We had not seen them since before the surgery so I had fun showing them everything about the CI. It has been 7 months since I was activated but feels so much longer because I rarely even think about it now except when I still occasionally talk to other people about it. I still also just smile for no reason somethimes though when I put it on in the morning, because it still amazes me that I can slip someting onto the back of my ear and suddenly begin to hear again. What a blessing!
Until later.,...