35 Misconceptions about Deafness, Deafblindness and Hard of Hearing

I found this link on Hearing Sparks' blog on her "Around the Web Wednesday" post from Suzie at Deafcomm blog. This is an excellent list of misconceptions, one worth familiarizing yourself with if you aren't already aware.
http://deafcomm.wordpress.com/2011/08/21/35-misconceptions-about-deafness-and-deafblindness/

Cool Lyric App Discovered by Deafinitely Girly

Deaf Girly found a fabulous app that allows you to see the lyrics to songs that are currently playing. She even had lyrics come up in English from a song sung in Spanish! Read about her discovery of  the FREE app here:  http://www.deafinitelygirly.com/2011/08/great-iphone-app-for-deaf-girly.html I found it and downloaded it myself. I can't wait to try this out!

"Beautiful"

This is just that. "Beautiful".
Open Captions

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GZnfH7Ie6Go

"Firework" an ASL interpretation

I found this WONDERFUL ASL interpretation of Katy Perry's "Firework" and it is just too good not to share. I love seeing not just the signs, but the rhythmic movement and expressions. This is beautifully artful to me.  

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nByWHdu1pXY&feature=related  This was uploaded by Tiffany Hill.
Firework lyrics
Songwriters: Dean, Esther; Eriksen, Mikkel; Hermansen, Tor Erik; Perry, Katy; Wilhelm, Sandy Julien;

Do you ever feel like a plastic bag
Drifting through the wind, wanting to start again?
Do you ever feel, feel so paper thin
Like a house of cards, one blow from caving in?

Do you ever feel already buried deep?
Six feet under screams but no one seems to hear a thing
Do you know that there's still a chance for you
'Cause there's a spark in you?

You just gotta ignite the light and let it shine
Just own the night like the 4th of July

'Cause baby, you're a firework
Come on, show 'em what you're worth
Make 'em go, oh
As you shoot across the sky

Baby, you're a firework
Come on, let your colors burst
Make 'em go, oh
You're gonna leave 'em falling down

You don't have to feel like a waste of space
You're original, cannot be replaced
If you only knew what the future holds
After a hurricane comes a rainbow

Maybe you're reason why all the doors are closed
So you could open one that leads you to the perfect road
Like a lightning bolt, your heart will blow
And when it's time, you'll know

You just gotta ignite the light and let it shine
Just own the night like the 4th of July

'Cause baby you're a firework
Come on, show 'em what you're worth
Make 'em go, oh
As you shoot across the sky

Baby, you're a firework
Come on, let your colors burst
Make 'em go, oh
You're gonna leave 'em falling down

Boom, boom, boom
Even brighter than the moon, moon, moon
It's always been inside of you, you, you
And now it's time to let it through

'Cause baby you're a firework
Come on, show 'em what you're worth
Make 'em go, oh
As you shoot across the sky

Baby, you're a firework
Come on, let your colors burst
Make 'em go, oh
You're gonna leave 'em falling down

Boom, boom, boom
Even brighter than the moon, moon, moon
Boom, boom, boom
Even brighter than the moon, moon, moon

"Different Perspectives" by Hearing Sparks

Hearing Sparks puts into words the process of how some of us choose which movies we will go to and why we don't go to others. She also included a portion about the "spoon theory" which elegantly describes what it is like to experience sensory loss. http://hearingsparks.blogspot.com/2011/08/different-perspectives.html

"Peace Maker" by Annie in Oregon

I have a wise and gentle friend who has a beautiful way of teaching profound lessons with words and pictures. This particular blog post she published today spoke volumes to me, and showed me some things I have yet to learn.
http://www.blipfoto.com/entry/1357675

Rush Limbaugh's Excellent Description

Rush Limbaugh does a fantastic job explaining how "hearing" is with cochlear implants (and exactly what I experience with hearing aids). . This is highly descriptive and informative. This is what it is like for me, from music to noise distortion, inability to distinguish sounds and, noise irritability to the preference of silence. Excellently described, Mr. Limbaugh.
Read what he said word for word here:  http://www.rushlimbaugh.com/home/daily/site_031811/content/01125112.guest.html

Anonymous Comments

 I'm going to follow this excellent advice and no longer publish anonymous comments. "Anonymous comments are not worth responding to. Generally they are left by people who wish only to stir up strife." Also along these lines, when a blog post is reposted, ALL comments are lost, not deleted. If you want to say something hateful or derogatory, publish it on your own blog.

Please Don't Pet Me (written by Holden, a Service Dog for Susquehanna Service Dogs

I will admit that I've actually followed a couple of dogs on Twitter, my favorite one is @dogwalkblog (Rufus actually knows more of what's going on in our political world than most humans). I was delightfully surprised to find this informative blog post written by one of Susquehanna Service Dogs, Holden. Here's his no bones about it advice on etiquette when you see a dog working with its partner.
http://www.forcivilminds.org/2011/08/10/please-don%E2%80%99t-pet-me/#more-150
Visit Susquehanna Service Dog's Home Page Here  http://www.keystonehumanservices.org/susquehanna-service-dogs/default.php

This is the third blog post shared by Susquehanna Service Dogs in honor of International Service Dog Week

"They Say" This is video by a wonderfully determined young woman

I don't know who this young woman is, but I know she is going to do something tremendous with her life. My answer to her question: Yes, yoiu not only can, but I think you will.


You go, Girl!

Day Two of International Assistance Dogs Week: Stress and Your Dog

The second blog this week by by Susquehanna Service Dogs is all about learning to read the body language of your dog when he is in stress, and tips how to train under such situations.

http://susquehannaservicedogs.blogspot.com/2011/08/training-tip-stress-signals.html

It's International Assistance Dogs Week!

Here is a wonderful blog post by Susquehanna Service Dogs explaining the difference between therapy dogs and service dogs. Do be sure to take a minute to watch the fabulous infomercial by the Norwegian Association of the Blind that is posted midway through the blog.   http://susquehannaservicedogs.blogspot.com/2011/08/whats-difference-between-service-dogs.html

How to Recognize a Deaf Customer

I ran across this excellent article by Spencer Clark on how to recognize deaf customers. These are excellent tips for customer service etiquette. Every business or public organization should read this and pass along to their employees and volunteers.

http://www.ecademy.com/node.php?id=151585

This really should be posted at every work station.

The Most Emotional TV Ad I Have Ever Seen

 Here is an interesting post from Hearing Sparks with an insurance ad from Thai TV. It is in Thai Language and if you click CC button you will have English captions.  Megan is correct, it is a "gut wrencher". It's 3 minutes. If you're a parent, it's even more emotional.

http://hearingsparks.blogspot.com/2011/08/around-web-wednesday.html

My Guest Appearance As Blog Writer at Signing Time

Signing Time Academy asked if I would share what we do at St. Stephen's with our ASL classes. It is a wonderful privilege to write and share about the two organizations I am most passionate about. You can read what I wrote as Guest Blogger. Click the highlighted title to read it: Making a Difference: This school is teaching ASL – with Signing Time!

Trouble Hearing the TV? Try This

Chances are, you or someone you know will experience hearing loss at some point in life. Now that people are living longer, more are experiencing hearing loss. Many times, we are unaware we are losing our hearing. We just turn up the volume on the t.v. or radio. Many quit socializing with the people that are "too quiet". Even those with hearing aids don't socialize as much because sounds aren't "normal", or EVERYTHING is too loud, or wearing hearing aids too much each day cause recurring ear infections, or they make things louder, but not clearer, or they just aren't loud enough. They aren't perfect, they are just what they are - hearing AIDS.

If you know someone who is no longer hearing as well as they used to and have their t.v. blaring too loudly, there is an option available. All the new sets have a "closed caption" (CC) setting they can turn on. My mother only recently started using hers, wishing now she had turned it on years ago. Most programs are now privately captioned or captioned by the National Captioning Institute. When breaking news comes up live, we are now able to read what the newscaster is saying. It's wonderful.

I am fortunate to have been learning Sign Language, though I'm not as fluent as I'd like to be yet, but there are so many people who are in a place where they haven't learned any Sign Language. Yet, they can't hear as they used to. They isolate themselves because they don't fit into any "social category", such as "Hearing" or "Deaf". They are wedged between 2 segments of society, not being able to hear, yet not being able to sign. They are some of the loneliest people in our society. 

I have been in meetings where we had "real time" captioning available along with ASL interpreters. Many who are deafened later in life never learned Sign Language. It is much harder to learn as you get older. For these people, many who are now the generation known as Baby Boomers, closed captioning is a wonderful option to have available. 

Answers Sometimes Come Unexpectedly

 Little Fellow mumbled a request somewhat inaudibly during his prayer time one morning this past winter. Fabulous husband asked him what he was praying for. He mumbled something or other. Fabulous Husband kept asking, and Little Fellow kept mumbling. Finally realizing that Dad was going to keep asking until he spoke up, Little Fellow said loudly, "A bunny. I want a bunny rabbit."

Fabulous Husband explained as simply as he could that we don't make prayer requests like this. Little Fellow was ok with that, and he really knew this already, but he was sincerely making his request known to the One who is really in charge, The one over the heads of Mom and Dad. He knew what our answer would be, but it didn't stop him from taking it to our Heavenly Father.

Shortly after that day, it had snowed and school had been canceled. Little Fellow was looking out the window and shouted, "A bunny! There's a bunny outside!" I went over and stood next to him and we watched the brown furry critter hopping around  the yard. I text Fabulous Husband and told him Little Fellow and I were watching a bunny outside in front of our home. Fabulous Husband filled me in on the details of the prayer request.

I laughed at first, then I pondered what I was reading. This was a great opportunity to discuss how God sometimes answers a prayer in an unexpected way.

"You can't have a bunny for a pet, but God sent a bunny to visit you." It just seemed to be the thing to say.

Sometimes God will answer our prayers in ways we don't expect. He hears all our prayers. No prayer ever goes unanswered, sometimes we just don't recognize the answer when it comes. Sometimes we get a "Yes", sometimes a "No", other times "Not yet" and often we even get  "Here is something better, instead". Most of my greatest answered prayers have been answered in the most unexpected ways at the most unexpected times.

Twice since the first sighting this bunny has appeared in front of our car as we drive along toward Church street. He actually hopped along the road in front of our car. One day, he not only hopped along in front of us, he also hopped along side us, much to Little Fellow's delight, before turning and dashing off into another neighborhood.

I believe God hears and answers the prayers of the little children in ways we grown ups have forgotten, or brush off as coincidence. I'm certain it is one of the ways God teaches a child to learn to trust that He hears them and sends them surprises to build their faith in Him.

Isn't this what we do for our children, ourselves, sometimes answering their request in unexpected and surprising ways?

Don't Hang Up Campaign

Finally, Relay Operators for the Deaf and Hearing Impaired in Wyoming are getting a little help. Hopefully, this campaign will reach into other states as well. Too often, we who use a Relay Service get hung up on by businesses, clinics, etc. who do not wait for the Calling Agent or Relay Operator to explain the service before hanging up, or they think it is marketing or solicitous calls, or even prank calls. Check out the campaign here:
http://www.myvrs.org/blog/2011/07/sprint-to-provide-full-suite-of-relay-products-and-services-to-the-state-of-wyoming/

It's about time. I just wish it wasn't just Sprint doing this, but ALL telecommunication companies.

Need Captions? Call This Fabulous Communications Specialist

My Fabulous Husband (I capitalize that because he truly is) used to work for the Pentagon in Washington, D. C. He is what you would call a "communications specialist". One of his many various duties was to design a program for a training session with live captioning for the Deaf and  Hearing Impaired employees in attendance. This is just one of the reasons he is so fabulous.

Instead of trying to see what they needed from his viewpoint, he went to the Deaf and Hearing Impaired and involved them in the process of designing a program specifically for them that worked for them. With their input in the process, he was able to come up with the best solution that worked for everyone. He's very clever that way. He recognizes we're not all the same, nor are we all on the same level. We are at varying degrees in our needs, our communications and our skills.

I'm very proud of him, how he is able to observe, ask questions,  ponder and come up with solutions that help. I'm also very thankful to have someone in my life who has been observant enough to work so hard at living with me. It's not easy for a hearing person to live with someone who is deaf. There is a lot of trial and error on both parties as we navigate our way through the seas of communication, but every bit of work is worth it. We all benefit.

Why I Do What I Do

This week, I found a plethora of emails and comments from various people from various sides of  "Deaf Awareness", along with other issues. Each comment had some valid points, however, different perspectives, which leads me to what I'm about to write.

I was once hearing, then had a mild hearing loss, moderate, etc.  Now I am deaf. I have been across the hearing spectrum.

Each person has a perspective, a reality different from another. Our experiences are different, our deafness is different, the degrees of our deafness and the issues we deal with. Each of us lives in a culture within a culture of some kind. Some of us are stuck between the two cultures, not fitting into either one, such as the Hard of Hearing or Hearing Impaired. They have the hardest time being wedged between the cultures.

However, truth is truth no matter where it comes from or where you are in the spectrum. One person's perspective of reality may vastly vary from another person's simply because their life and experiences have been different.

I'm not going to post the comments that were left because all of you have your own blogs, and I read them like many others. I appreciate all of your views, and each of you have valid points. However, just because someone has a different view, does not mean they are wrong, or right or evil, not living in reality, nor does their motivation behind what they write matter (such as someone being paid to write something). The bottom line is we all have our place, our experience, our reality, views and motivation. This is why so many of us blog, and I love reading all of the blogs,,,,,, until they become hatefully critical.

I like the idea of a coalition of some sort to raise Deaf Awareness. Actually, years ago, in a small community where I once lived, we had a place called Resources for the Disabled, run by ALL disabled people, mental illness was represented, returning Veterans, the blind and the Deaf of our community, among others, all were equally important and represented. We put out a newsletter that educated and brought awareness to the community where we lived on various issues, each article written someone representing their own disability or Deaf issues. It was run voluntarily and sadly dissolved from lack of donated funds and grants. Perhaps it was a little before its time.

Questioning someone's motivation, having a grudge because the "Deafies stole" from you, being bitter because someone makes a different communication choice, or being angry because another parent is following their heart to try a new device for their child whom they have parental rights to choose what they believe is best for their child,,,, all this bickering leads me to ask, "How is this working for you...or US?"

Perhaps it's time we start respecting the different views and life experiences and realities of others, even if it vastly differs from our own views and let's start finding things that need to be worked on TOGETHER without blaming or pointing fingers or criticizing.

I'm not saying don't write about your personal experiences on your blogs.

I'd just like to see some positive suggestions and ideas without name calling or blaming and flaming. I'd like to see solutions and support for one another.

Let's show "the hearing world" a positive view and something different for a change, such as a group of people striving for some positive changes in our society, people who are trying to break down communication barriers and make it a better place, and to do it with integrity and kindness and a spirit of respect, and respecting the differences.

Even if it is just one person at a time.

I recently read on someone's blog when they were at the store a hearing person started waving their hands in the air like they were signing. That would have been a great teaching moment, if not for that sales clerk, at least for someone else in the line, to take a moment to show an actual sign, such as "pay" or "money" or even simply "thank you" and "you're welcome".

Too often we choose to think the worst of others, or we add to the contentiousness. I understand there will be times where someone is absolutely mean spirited, but there are more times that people just don't know any better. If we stay so closed within our community, we're not getting out there reaching others or educating them. With programs coming out now such as "Switched At Birth", there will be more people curious and wanting to learn. Don't crush their spirit by questioning their motives or being too critical because the signs they attempt aren't quite right. Allow them grace. At least they are trying.

As for people who are paid to write things, someone somewhere is probably reading and learning about something they did not know before because someone took the time to write about it, and though it may not be your truth, it is someone's truth, someone's reality somewhere. At least they are doing something, and trying to get the message out where it may not reach otherwise.

So, in closing, know this. I read your blogs, I read your comments and I respect your views, even if they are different from my own. I am learning as I read, but understand this about me and why I share posts from others and blog myself. I want to be part of the communication solution for those looking for solutions. I want to be a support to others who have lost their hearing, no matter how, as well as a support to those who have been born deaf or are culturally Deaf by choice. It's about people, and building relationships with people.

Why Deaf Awareness?" A Post on Liz's page by Suzie Jones

This is an excellent essay about why deafness matters to ALL of us. Please take a moment to read this. Even though the statistics are those from the U. K. the stats can't be too far off from the U.S. I once read the stats for U. S. was 1 in 10. Click the highlighted link and it will take you there.
 http://l1zblog.wordpress.com/2011/07/20/guest-post-by-suzie-jones-why-deaf-awareness/

Ears? Eyes? "It's Always Something"

I've had to had my lenses changed a little more frequently lately. I understand it's part of the aging process, but still it is annoying, especially when I depend on them so much to help me hear. I find I'm having to get closer to people to follow the conversation.

Besides the "normal" eye conditions, I have nystagmus along with it. Nystagmus is a condition where the eyeball itself moves uncontrollably. My particular condition is rotary nystagmus, which means they not only move back and forth, but somewhat circular. I'm not sure how it works, and I can't remember if it is a nerve or muscular condition. I only know it really is irritating and often exacerbates when I am tired, and makes it more difficult to lip read and follow along for very long when I do get tired.

I once saw a specialist who told me that we could fix my eyes surgically, but they would be set in one place and never move. I would have to turn my whole head to see anything on either side, as well as up or down. I had to think about that. We can see so much just by a slight movement of turning our gaze, our eyes. I also thought about how with my ears and balance being off, moving my head around that much would just make me dizzy. No, surgery would not be an option for me with the ear condition I have.

I realize that as we age, we are going to have "normal" aging issues with our eyes and ears. With so many of the baby boomers coming into this stage of life, we are depending more and more on aids, glasses, gadgets and all the new technologies that offer these ease of communication for us.

I love how far we've come with Captioning and Subtitling. I'm absolutely thrilled to see Caption in Real Time becoming more common. I'm thinking what we will need to do next is have reserved seating for our aging, Deaf and disabled people up close so we can actually see the captions displayed at sporting events and other various gatherings.

There are a lot of sensory issues that come along with us as we age that we don't fully understand when we are young. I wish I had paid better attention and been more understanding and accommodating to those older than I when I was younger. Often, we don't fully understand these things until we are experiencing these situations ourselves.

I find I'm asking myself more regularly now, is it my ears or my eyes that are getting worse? As Gilda Radnor used to say, "It's always something..."

We Both Needed An Interpreter, but for Different Reasons

My son had a friend over today. His mom and I are taking turns picking up the kids and watching them while the other one of us goes to the gym. This afternoon, the young fellow kept having to repeat a question to me. I moved across the room to read what he was saying and I still couldn't get it. After a few attempts, he called to my son and asked him to come tell me what he was saying. My son interprets for me that they want to know if they can go get the soccer ball out of the garage.

When his mom came to pick him up today, I mentioned to her that he figured out since I couldn't hear him, he had my son come interpret for him. She tells me he has a speech impediment. Really? I never knew that. Apparently, it used to be much worse. The teachers at school had difficulty understanding him when he answered questions, but the kids always seemed to understand him fine. It's rather funny to think about it, he is asking for my son to interpret because he is having difficulty from a speech impediment which I have no clue he has. I'm just wanting an interpreter because I can't hear him. We both needed my son to interpret for us, but for different reasons. 

My Fabulous Husband has always been wonderful about describing to me the way people often sound when they talk, if they have an accent, what it is, if they're soft spoken, anything like that. He knows that I like to know these things about people because I can't hear the difference anymore. I had someone once tell me I had a slow drawl and they thought I was from the south. No, I may have been born in the South, but I was raised in the Pacific Northwest. Fabulous Husband said I just have a slow pitch. I've been told my pitch and tone are very similar to some of the Native American tribes..which is interesting because I am in part Native American Indian, but I've not been raised around them. I don't know if it is a tonal quality we're born with, or if I just have a cadence in my speech from not hearing myself as others can hear me.

Because I used to hear well, I'm curious about these things. What kind of information am I missing from someone I'm getting to know simply because I can't hear them? Hearing people would be surprised how much information is passed verbally by the way a person speaks, the tones they use while speaking and the vernacular of where they are from and the rhythmic cadence or speech pattern they use . These are unique qualities that are personal and tell you a lot about them. They are qualities that distinguish people from others. I miss being able to hear that for myself. Deaf and hearing impaired people miss the two most important pieces of information from how a person uses their voice - the emotion and attitude behind their words. It is incredible how much much is communicated through the voice.

It makes me stop and realize how someone who has never heard would not know some of these distinctions. It would be difficult to describe those sounds because there is no base line to compare that to. I wonder, just how do you describe those kinds of sounds to a Deaf person who has never heard? How do you describe color to a blind person who has never seen color? How do you make comparisons?

These kinds of things really make me stop and think. These questions may seem ignorant to many, but for others, they may have the same curiosity and want to know as well. If you can answer this for me and explain to me how this is done, leave a comment below. Or if you have other thoughts along the same lines, post them. 

I am so fortunate to have people in my life that pick up on what I miss and clue me in. If you don't hear it, you don't know what you're missing. 

Part 2: This Deaf Girl Found A Great Way to Rebuild Confidence

Yesterday, I re-posted an article I wrote about accepting an open invitation from Stephanie on Twitter to join her for a class at Direct Action Tactical. Today, I'd like to share what an unusual and unique experience it has been these past couple of weeks. I'm learning more than what to do in a tough spot, practical things, such as how to avoid certain situations, to think and stay calm in the midst of turmoil, and I'm becoming more self aware.

I'm learning that as a deaf person, I may be more vulnerable in some areas, but in other areas, I have some advantages. I'm learning what I can handle, and what I need to work on.

Best of all, I've found a great group of people to be learning with. They  make sure I'm getting the information I need, making sure I understand the information and the movements, and that I'm doing it right.

We are all at different levels in the class. For some it is review and for others of us, it's our first time. Repetition and practice are essential keys for me.

Much of what we are learning is physical, simply "Follow the Leader". All of the instructors and my classmates are GREAT at giving me visual cues. Even one of the children of one of our instructors got on the floor yesterday and showed me by example how to do a "Russian Twist". The instructors are right there working out along side of us in the Fit to Fight classes.

There are actually 2 different classes that I have taken so far, the Women's Only Self Defense and Fit to Fight. My main focus is on the Self Defense class, and the thirty minute warm up before the class is just as intense as the hour and fifteen minutes of Fit to Fight. The lessons of Self Defense moves and manouevers are about an hour long. The size of our group is small and intimate, ranging anywhere from 2 of us up to about 8. I love connecting with the women here. We are all different ages, builds and backgrounds. We are discussing serious issues and challenging situations, and we are also having fun in the process.

I wish all women could take a class like this because it truly does build self confidence and self awareness. It challenges us deal with our own weaknesses and builds and strengthens us not only physically, but mentally. There are mind sets that are beneficial just in phrasing things differently that can help a person in many stressful situations even beyond the training center. I've already started to practice removing the word "can't" from my vocabulary and looking at what I can. I hope to never have to use the phrase, "Not today" in the context by which we learned to use it, but should that ever be the case, I know I'll be counting on it to help me get in the right mind set for that moment.

I'm sure there are many other benefits I've not learned as yet, and I'm looking forward to seeing what those are. It would be nice if one of those benefits will be to be able to outrun my 7 year old, or at best, keep up with him.

*** For the men - and the more adventurous woman - there are the incredibly intense Krav Maga classes available.  ***

I heard also that the teens love the Youth Impact program. When our son is old enough, we'll be enrolling him, as well.

You can visit Direct Action Tactical here:  http://directactiontact.wordpress.com/

I have already met one of the personal goals I set for myself, and I'm going to keep practicing the others until I'm no longer practicing, but doing.

This Deaf Girl Found a GREAT Way to Rebuild Confidence

I love Twitter. I love all the information and conversations flying around in phrases written in 140 characters or less. If you're open to a lot of different people and ideas,  and  you're willing "follow" them, you're going to be learning about things you never heard of before, maybe even try a few new things along the way.

I started following Stephanie over a year ago. We had never met. I added her to follow on twitter because she showed up in a "local" search. I was looking for new people and friends. Being fairly new to PA, it seemed like a good plan at the time, and I'm reaping great benefits from that choice.

A number of months ago, she started tweeting about a new class she and her husband had been attending. At first, I thought it had something to do with yoga. I was interested because I used to practice Power Yoga daily before moving to PA. The class had an odd name, one I couldn't remember, but I rather envisioned it was the new yoga trend where people are doing difficult yoga positions in a very hot room. Then came the tweet she mentioned the practice that day left her with a fat lip. Somehow, yoga and a fat lip should not go together in the same sentence, but I didn't think to look any further into it until the invitation.

It wasn't a private invitation, but an open tweet to "anyone interested in trying a free class" kind of invitation. I thought to myself, why not? I love yoga, would love to get back into it and back into shape and I would also love to meet the lovely person behind all the interesting tweets.

Yoga, it was not. The class she and her husband are taking is self defense specialized hand to hand combat Marine Corp Martial Arts of the most intense degree. It was fascinating. Once the class began, they were doing exercises around the mats, running, pulling life sized dummies back and forth, and at one point, pummeling the snot out of them. I was impressed. Shortly after all that, she comes over and informs me this is just the warm up exercises.

After warming up, we then head to the next room where the instructions on actual self defense holds and moves are taught. I couldn't hear the training, but I saw enough to know I wanted to learn how to do this myself, especially when I saw Stephanie throw a man twice her size and weight to the floor like a rag doll.

Empowerment. That was the word Stephanie used when she came over shortly after this and explained I could learn to do this, too, and how she felt empowered. While watching all of this, I realized how these skills would allow me to be self sufficient if I ever encountered a potentially serious situation.. I would be able to take care of myself. I would regain some of the confidence that disappeared when my hearing started fading.

I came home and told Fabulous Husband all about the classes, how the young woman could hold her own, and how the fellows in the class didn't give her an easy time of it, but they didn't make it beyond her capabilities to perform, either. As she said, it was a "safe" place to learn, and everyone was serious about what they were learning, but having fun and challenging each other as well. I'm signing up for the women's only self defense class.

The class Stephanie and her husband take is Krav Maga.

You can read what Stephanie wrote about her experience at Direct Action Tactical in this newsletter here: http://myemail.constantcontact.com/June-Newsletter-from--Direct-Action-Tactical.html?soid=1103795792944&aid=ZHCuBdUzxI4

And their website is located here: http://www.directactiontactical.com/