Practice makes perfect

Well, I thought the new laptop would solve the computer problems. Wrong. Turned out the problem transferred with the recovered data. Wonder if I should have binned the old laptop?

Lots has been going on since the last blog, so I’ve plenty to type about. Let’s start with me not being as deaf communication prepared as I thought I was.

Over the space of a week I chatted with two Deaf people, no problem for someone living with a deaf partner – perhaps even a chance to shine and show how I’m better than the average person in the street.

I stalled! My masterful finger spelling looked like I was shuffling cards. I pointed my hands in the wrong direction, I had to ‘count’ through the alphabet on my fingers and I temporarily lost my ability to spell. My limited signing went completely out of my head, I even had to ask a deaf person what was the sign for dog!! Think I’ll get some new cards printed – “Hello, my name’s Tony, I’m not as good as I hoped I was, please do the hard work for me”.

Communication between Sue and I must be simplified to some degree by familiarity, but familiarity does bring contempt. A stranger needs accuracy and fluency when it comes to conversation, and I found that pressure slowed me to a hand crawl. I need to practice, I need to get faster and I must become more confident. Meeting the other person’s smile with a look of terror and confusion won’t inspire confidence. And saying “sorry, this is hard” should bring a slap round the face. Me, a hearing person, finding conversation difficult, how ironic.

Sue and I are going to an event where there will be signers, for a change I’ll be hiding behind Sue and nodding whilst not understanding what’s being said.

Serve me right, I’ve done something unforgivable, I’ve allowed the deaf person in my life to compensate for my failings.