Intimate Moments
An excellent, short and sweet essay by Mark Drolsbaugh on how and why sign language has enriched his life, despite being able to cope without it with his hearing non-signing friends.
Furthermore, with sign language it’s easy to become immersed in group conversations. Years ago, when a group of hearing friends burst out in laughter, I would either ignore it and smile along like an idiot, or ask a trusted friend to repeat what was said. He would usually comply but it was not the same. I was playing catch-up. The moment itself was gone. Or, as the notoriously famous deaf quote goes, “Train gone.”
You simply can’t take those magic, spontaneous moments and recreate them. It just doesn’t work when you say, “Hold it, everyone say that all over again slowly for the deaf guy.” There’s a natural flow to deep, intimate conversations. They just happen, and you’re either fully involved in the moment or you’re not. It’s a spiritual aspect of our lives that is often overlooked but essential to all of us.
Mark has a site - click on the link above to access - with thoughtful, easy-reading and well-written essays about Deaf culture, myths and the current affairs affecting the deaf. Note that he is not a Deaf or sign language militant, in fact, he is an adovcate who speaks up for the rights of all deaf/HI/HOH and displays a great sense of equanimity. Highly recommended. I’ll be highlighting more of his essays in time to come.
