Guest guest Posted March 31, 2000 Report Share Posted March 31, 2000 Great thoughts Kat! Our beauty is our 'spirit' anyway! Thanks for posting this! Gretchen KathleenLS@... wrote: > > Kat here. When I read this I thought of the CMTers who think they are being > stared at. > I know that often people appear to be looking at someone, but their minds are > not engaged so they don't actually see what their eyes are aimed at. In other > words, they are not staring at you but they are vacantly looking into space. > > On the other hand, might not some of them be wondering if whatever aids you > are using would be appropriate for themselves or someone they know? Might not > they actually be admiring you? > > In any event, this is a lovely story. > ------------------------ > You Are Beautiful > by Fahncke > > Not many people talk to my son. It isn't that they don't want to. Everyone > who sees him wishes they could. There is something so rare and beautiful > about him. I know I'm his mother, and I'm supposed to think that, but > strangers often come up to me and just announce how beautiful he is. Instead > of saying " Thank you " like any well-mannered mother would, I always look at > his beautiful chubby face, with its rosy cheeks, brilliant blue eyes, full > red lips, and in awe myself, I simply say " I know " . Something within him > bubbles over with life, it amazes even me. > > My son is two years old. And he is Deaf. > > I used to become embarrassed when strangers would stare at our conversations. > My hands flying, my face animated to express my " tone of voice " , and my > toddler's chubby hands fluttering with his baby signs, his face even more > animated than mine, I know it is something to see. > > But embarrassment soon became pride when I learned that people were only > staring because they think our language is beautiful. Indeed it is. Many > times I have watched with joy, my heart bursting with pride and sheer love > when I see my baby speak with his hands. He can say more with his hands and > his face than most children his age can say with their voices. To me, nothing > is more beautiful than a child's small hands signing " I love you " , or " Mama, > hold me " . > > People will walk up to us, sometimes embarrassed and nervous, sometimes shy, > but always curious about this beautiful language we use. Time and time again, > I am asked where they can learn to sign. What I used to mistake for rudeness > was simply admiration and the wishing of strangers that they could speak like > us. > > However much they want to, most of the people in my little son's life cannot > speak to him. As a result, he goes through life in a silent confusion, with > only a very small percentage of the people he comes in contact with able to > communicate with him. > > And when we do meet someone who " speaks " his language, it is a unique and > wonderful gift. > > Last week our family went to a nearby Zuka Juice. We were enjoying each > other's company, laughing and talking together. The place was filling up > fast, and as usual, I noticed many people watching us sign with Noah. Near > the front door were two missionaries, young men dressed in suits. One of them > was staring intently at my conversation with Noah. Noah and I were laughing > as I was calling him a piggy and he was complying by slurping down his chocola > te/peanut butter shake. > > The young missionary waited for Noah to turn his head and when he did, he > waved at Noah. Noah waved back and grinned his chocolatey two-year old smile. > What the young man did next made my heart leap and tears spring to my eyes. > > I watched with amazement as his hands formed the signs for " You are > beautiful " . I choked back a sob and watched as he did it again. Noah turned > and looked at me, his eyes huge, as if to say " MOM, DID YOU SEE THAT?! " I > pointed to the young missionary and then showed Noah the sign for " friend " . > The young man then signed to Noah " How are you? " Noah did a few baby signs > back and, being two, that was the extent of his attention span. Grinning, the > young man told me his sister was fluent in ASL, and over the years he had > picked up on it. We made polite conversation, and all too soon it was time to > leave. > > Although I'll never see that young man again, for a brief moment he gave me a > gift I won't forget. His conversation with my son was like a ray of sunshine. > Remembering his hands telling my child he is beautiful in his own language > still brings the tears. There aren't many moments like that for Noah, and I > will savor the memory always. > > Fahncke > xoxosooz@... > > Send an email and let her know what you thought of her writing! (If you > wish.) > > ========== > > PS, my profoundly hard-of-hearing (from her pregnant mom having German > measles; the innoculations weren't available back then) niece is able to > speak clearly as well as sign. She taught her two children sign language when > they were infants. She could talk to them privately when she wanted to, and > they had a large signing vocabulary before they could speak. Their hearing is > fine, but they can talk to their mom's friends who only can sign, which is > fun for all. > > ------------------------------------------------------------------------ > Get a NextCard Visa, in 30 seconds! > 1. Fill in the brief application > 2. Receive approval decision within 30 seconds > 3. Get rates as low as 2.9% Intro or 9.9% Fixed APR > Apply NOW! > http://click.egroups.com/1/2646/7/_/616793/_/954523660/ > ------------------------------------------------------------------------ > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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