The Hearing Earring

I can't hear a thing, I think.

I'm struggling to put an earring in my right ear, using one hand to insert the diamond studded post, and the other to screw on the back. I can't remember which direction to screw the back, so I'm fumbling first clockwise and then counter-clockwise.

To a hearing ear, direction is automatic. An operating ear discerns an efficient turn of the screw without the wearer of the jewels even realizing it. She doesn't need to stare into the mirror, paranoid of losing her treasure, or frantically rub her thumb and index finger along the post to see if the screwback really is moving in her favor. Her valuables are safeguarded and secured.

I do the deaf side first, leary, fumbling through it, eyeglasses on, fixated on the mirror. Several attempts before a shaky success.

The left earring goes in, and I begin to screw the back the wrong way. I'm instantly, imperceptibly aware that this ear's perfect hearing is not registering the metallic twisting into the tiny groove, so I immediately alter my course.

Ah, that's it, I think. My diamond will soon be safe.

I can't help wondering about the living, breathing jewels I love and care about. What if I don't really hear them half the time? Do I shrug off their priceless value and risk losing them, or do I mobilize all my remaining senses to compensate for my glaring deficit?

As I turn away from the mirror's reflection of my gleaming jewels, I raise both hands to my ears, running my thumbs in the grooves of the backs to make sure they're equally secured. One diamond is silent, and the other divulges all.

Both are my treasures.

Posted by Katy on 05/02/03 at 01:40 PM

Fallible Comments...

You're a great writer....found you while just surfing the web. I've bookmarked your site. You're make interesting reading.
-----
Posted by Just on 05/02/03 at 06:57 PM
While hardly the expert, I am going to throw in more pennies: Recognizing the worth of something (in this case, earrings) is an admirable thing. Becoming too attached to something (in this case, earrings) can be dangerous. Ultimately, we can only do the best we can and leave the rest to God. After all, even though you might put lots of care into your earrings, you might actually lose the earring that you thought you had so securely attached to your GOOD ear.
Posted by Maria on 05/03/03 at 12:03 AM
Just--Welcome! Come back often. Maria, You are right. It's entirely possible I have control issues! Really...
Posted by katy on 05/07/03 at 01:15 AM
My mom is also deaf in one ear. It went deaf the same day that my little sister had her first seizure.
Posted by Ellen on 05/10/03 at 08:49 PM
Whoa, Ellen, that was a stressful day for your Mom! How long ago? How is your sister now? Does your Mom know what caused her deafness? Wish her a Happy Mother's Day from one deaf mama to another!
Posted by katy on 05/11/03 at 05:19 AM
As far as I know, I don't think she does know what caused it. As for my sister, she kept on having them. The doctors misdiagnosed the kind she was having, and by the time she was diagnosed properly (by different doctors) she had endured brain damage. She's 25 years old now and still medicated, but you can tell she's a sharp cookie underneath the fuzz of damage and medication. She can read, write, and she lives semi-independently in a Christian group home and holds down a job.
Posted by Ellen on 05/12/03 at 07:54 AM
Ellen, Your sister sounds like she's done really well. It's great she can live in a group home, and work and all. I asked about your mom because I had an acoustic tumor (on the hearing nerve, deep in skull) which took my hearing in one fell swoop. I've met several people who've had these, so I just wondered....
Posted by katy on 05/13/03 at 05:48 AM

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Personal blog of christian writer & fallible mom Katy McKenna Raymond in Kansas City, Missouri Katy is represented by Greg Johnson at WordServe Literary Read more Katy at LateBoomer.net Follow Katy on Twitter Follow Katy on Facebook 123 Recent Posts Try Becoming Brenda Starr Off Beat Scattered That’s It So I’ve Finally Signed With An Agent. Now What? The Spoon Sciatica Sweetheart A Woman’s Train of Thought Has No Caboose However much we own, we are all still living on borrowed time After all, when restaurants shrink portions, they don’t shrink prices. As with everything in life, balance is key. Slow down, you move too fast… Yeah, I know. I have issues. Search Advanced Search Syndicate Login E me at katy @ ngenius.com	The Hearing Earring I can't hear a thing, I think. I'm struggling to put an earring in my right ear, using one hand to insert the diamond studded post, and the other to screw on the back. I can't remember which direction to screw the back, so I'm fumbling first clockwise and then counter-clockwise. To a hearing ear, direction is automatic. An operating ear discerns an efficient turn of the screw without the wearer of the jewels even realizing it. She doesn't need to stare into the mirror, paranoid of losing her treasure, or frantically rub her thumb and index finger along the post to see if the screwback really is moving in her favor. Her valuables are safeguarded and secured. I do the deaf side first, leary, fumbling through it, eyeglasses on, fixated on the mirror. Several attempts before a shaky success. The left earring goes in, and I begin to screw the back the wrong way. I'm instantly, imperceptibly aware that this ear's perfect hearing is not registering the metallic twisting into the tiny groove, so I immediately alter my course. Ah, that's it, I think. My diamond will soon be safe. I can't help wondering about the living, breathing jewels I love and care about. What if I don't really hear them half the time? Do I shrug off their priceless value and risk losing them, or do I mobilize all my remaining senses to compensate for my glaring deficit? As I turn away from the mirror's reflection of my gleaming jewels, I raise both hands to my ears, running my thumbs in the grooves of the backs to make sure they're equally secured. One diamond is silent, and the other divulges all. Both are my treasures. Posted by Katy on 05/02/03 at 01:40 PM Fallible Comments... You're a great writer....found you while just surfing the web. I've bookmarked your site. You're make interesting reading. ----- Posted by Just on 05/02/03 at 06:57 PM While hardly the expert, I am going to throw in more pennies:<br><br>Recognizing the worth of something (in this case, earrings) is an admirable thing. Becoming too attached to something (in this case, earrings) can be dangerous.<br><br>Ultimately, we can only do the best we can and leave the rest to God. After all, even though you might put lots of care into your earrings, you might actually lose the earring that you thought you had so securely attached to your GOOD ear. Posted by Maria on 05/03/03 at 12:03 AM Just--Welcome! Come back often.<br><br>Maria, You are right. It's entirely possible I have control issues! Really... Posted by katy on 05/07/03 at 01:15 AM My mom is also deaf in one ear. It went deaf the same day that my little sister had her first seizure. Posted by Ellen on 05/10/03 at 08:49 PM Whoa, Ellen, that was a stressful day for your Mom! How long ago? How is your sister now? Does your Mom know what caused her deafness? Wish her a Happy Mother's Day from one deaf mama to another! Posted by katy on 05/11/03 at 05:19 AM As far as I know, I don't think she does know what caused it. <br><br>As for my sister, she kept on having them. The doctors misdiagnosed the kind she was having, and by the time she was diagnosed properly (by different doctors) she had endured brain damage. She's 25 years old now and still medicated, but you can tell she's a sharp cookie underneath the fuzz of damage and medication. She can read, write, and she lives semi-independently in a Christian group home and holds down a job. Posted by Ellen on 05/12/03 at 07:54 AM Ellen, Your sister sounds like she's done really well. It's great she can live in a group home, and work and all. I asked about your mom because I had an acoustic tumor (on the hearing nerve, deep in skull) which took my hearing in one fell swoop. I've met several people who've had these, so I just wondered.... Posted by katy on 05/13/03 at 05:48 AM Page 1 of 1 pages Commenting is not available in this weblog entry. Next entry: One Way to Meet Your Neighbors Previous entry: Mental Chillness? << Back to main


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The Hearing Earring

Personal blog of christian
writer & fallible mom
Katy McKenna Raymond
in Kansas City, Missouri