Almost two weeks ago I went away for 2 days. First off this is so unconventional for me. When I took my marriage vows almost 16 years ago I became a couple. Then kids came and our family was born. We do everything together. If the kids are somewhere then I am with Chad. We just don’t do things seperate. A day here and there but never overnight. This was new and wonderful. I am not against doing things seperate. We just don’t seem to do it. I travelled to the cities and met 3 ladies that I only knew from being online and active in the Say What Club. If you don’t get it from the title of the group we are part of we all have hearing loss. We met at the Birchwood Cafe in Minneapolis. I had never been at this cafe but have heard of it. It was a neat experience so now I can say “I have been there.”
I will be honest, I was nervous. I have never met these women but I feel I knew them forever. I was told by one of these women that you need to find your tribe. You need to find a group where you belong. There was an incredible feeling of sisterhood. One of acceptance, mentors, women that have your back. We had a fabulous lunch and discussion. From the cafe we travelled to Red Wing. We were very fortunate to have a good weather.
Upon getting into Red Wing we met our 5th woman and the house we would be staying at. We did a little sight seeing in Red Wing and over to Hager City. We enjoyed a drink at a dark Bar at the famous St James Hotel. Lip reading is hard in the dark so cell phone flashlights come into play and so do the fun of shadow puppets. The ice had been broken and laughing was one of the most prevalent sounds. We even had a chance to visit the biggest boot. Have you had a chance to do that yet?
The time we were together we laughed and talked about serious issues in our lives. We ate, drank the most wonderful margaritas on National Margaritas Day. We meshed and it felt so good to be sitting down with these women that had so much they could share with me. It was a feeling I never wanted to end. We decorated hearing aids, arts and crafts time. We had an adult woman’s slumber party.
I started thinking about our little group or tribe and it made me think of think of the book, Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants. Very abstractly but there is a group of girls of different backgrounds, family structures and sizes- a single pair of pants fit them all. It made me think of this tribe we are from all over, we are different ages, different ways to hear (hearing aids, cochlear implants, lip reading, signing) it all worked. We are a tribe of strong fierce deaf/ hard of hearing women. I can’t wait to be with them all again.
Musings of a Momma 