I had my hearing checked this week. I already knew I was having problems with hearing in my left ear. First, because when I put that ear down on my pillow, I can’t hear a thing. (Sometimes that’s a blessing. Think: snoring husband.) Second, because during a similar test a dozen years ago I was told that I’d lost most of the hearing in the mid-range of that ear.

People seem more kind to adults with vision problems than those with hearing problems. They eventually get annoyed at having to repeat everything once or twice. I don’t want to be any more annoying than I already am, so I know I’m headed for some sort of hearing device.

Plus — I don’t want to miss a thing! I want to hear it all — especially every word spoken by my grandchildren, the most darling, smart, lovable children on the planet today! 

When I got the test results from the audiologist, I figured I should let my teammates know right away. I texted Adela: “I just found out I have only 84% hearing in my left ear. The good news is the tester gave me a list of the 12 sounds I can’t hear, so starting right now, please stop using words with any of those sounds in them. Thank you. Tell Christi to do the same.”

Adela wrote back, “Please send the list of the 12 sounds so we can create a unique way to communicate, and you won’t know what we’re talking about.”