This past Valentines Day, my husband gave me a very special valentine’s gift. A clear umbrella! (I know, I know! You’re thinking either she is entirely to easy to please – which I’m not, or HE REALLY BLEW IT!)

The truth of the matter is that I saw I clear umbrella on a commercial a month or so before, and stated… “Wouldn’t it be great to have a clear umbrella? I would still be able to see your face when I’m walking in the rain and would be able to continue talking!”

My husband tends to “make mental sticky notes” when I say something like that. I’m allergic to cut flowers, and am usually “on a diet”, so he knows better than to get me flowers and/or chocolate. The poor man has had to be extremely creative to say the least! I think this year’s gift is the best yet.

I can walk in the rain now and still talk to someone… or even just be able to protect my CI and hearing aid better as I can hold the umbrella lower over my head!

It reminded me of the Mother’s Day two years ago… my children pitched in together and bought me a “Vivid Acoustics” clipboard. I use it several times a week and it is one of my favorite assistive listening devices. It goes to show (in my opinion) that my kids and husband love and appreciate who I am. They don’t lament the fact that I’m deaf, and they rarely (if ever) act exasperated at my missing things occasionally. Instead, they love to surprise me with things I can use… things that help me… things that just MAKE SENSE. I love them for that.

Denise Portis
©2008 Hearing Loss Diary