What I'd Miss If I Were...........

Deaf

• The way CoWorker, She of the Lovely Curls says in her Ecudorian accent, "What is this regarding about?"
• Augie singing for no other reason than I turned the faucet on.
• I wouldn't miss the sound of cell phones going off in the movies, but I would miss the hushed and hurried tones people use to get off the phone as fast as possible. "Hiyeahcan'ttalknow-what?-I'llhavetocal.......Hedidwhat?I'll call you ba.......... I'llcallyouback.I'minamovie.Thatactiononewithwhat'shisname.It'sok. I'llcallyoubacklater,ok?"
• The sound of my blinker, which sounds like popping a snapple cap.
• The song, "Storms in Africa" by Enya.
• The soft rustle of wind in palm trees.
• Crickets
• The sound of board game pieces rattling in a box.

Blind

• The way sun filters through tree leaves.
• Pictures in fashion magazines of women with their shoes off, walking down an exotic beach, arm in arm with a local man.
• The exact pattern of freckles on JR's arm.
• Painting my toes with glittery nail polish.
• Seeing the remsemblance between babies and their parents.
• Doing quick checks in the mirror to see if I've spilled anything on myself.
• Watching someone's fingers glide over the strings of a guitar.
• Finding where someone made notes in a old book.
• Balance. (My inner ears have been screwed up my whole life, and my balance is 90% visual.) When I close my eyes, I tend to fall over. Without my sight, I'm sure I'd fall over A LOT.
• The sheen of polished wood.
• The satisfying sight of a cupboard crammed with cans of soup.

Mute

• Having everyone understand me.
• Trying to request a song you don't remember the name of, and not being able to hum the chorus either.
• Being able to talk with my hands full. (On the upside, I'm sure no one would care if talked with my mouth full.)
• Making that 'oooooh' and 'awwwww' sound over presents at a babyshower.
• Striking up conversations with most strangers.
• Singing while I cook.

Paralyzed

• Touching people's hands while we talked.
• Dancing in the kitchen.
• Sex (Which I know would still technically be possible, but you know what I mean. Being an active participant, so to speak.)
• Mixing dough with my hands.
• Jumping on the bed.
• Swinging my feet until my flipflops just barely almost fell off.
• Washing dishes. It's very zen.
• That lovely feeling right after you're stretched.
• Flipping a backpack up onto my shoulder.
• Climbing trees. Yes, I still do that. What? Oh, shut up, I am NOT too old.