Why Goal #51

Goal #51 - Learn 1001 new signs in Sign Language. The thought behind this was that I would learn one new sign every day. Yeah...not so much. Ahhh! I just realized that Sign Language is something that few people know about me. Yes, I Sign, and I LOVE it! I started signing when I was a kid. I had a great-aunt and uncle who were Deaf. One had mumps or something and I'm not sure why the other was Deaf. I do mean was when I talk about them. Both are passed-on now. My brother and I learned the Sign Language alphabet growing up. My aunt gave us this HUGE red book full of thousands of signs, but I didn't learn much beyond the alphabet until I was an adult. I wanted to learn because I was always so fascinated watching my aunt and uncle. Not a word spoken, but completely understanding each other. It was amazing and beautiful and I wanted be be part of their world. So, learn I did. And I thought I was hot stuff! I had this unique skill and I would spell and spell and they sat and watched and spelled right back. Now that I know as much as I do, I'm amazed at their patience and how TEDIOUS it must have been sitting through my fingerspelling! Bless you Aunt Connie and Uncle Pedio!

When I was in my 20's, I got a brochure from American School for the Deaf offering community Sign Language classes. I went to every one and completely fell in love with the Language, the culture, the people...

I attended a program called Total Immersion. 5 days of only Signing. No talking allowed. You could write if you needed to, but what better way to learn a language and understand a culture than to be immersed in it? I had only been Signing for a few months when I went, so I was pretty lost. I learned SO much though! Body language, facial expressions, and silence. To get the full effect, I wore ear plugs all week so that I wouldn't even hear people's footsteps. I went to classes and sat in on conversations, learned how to use a TTY, played games and ate meals with people I had never met, and even participated in a Deaf drama. It was SO cool! I want to go back, and I will, but it's $500, so I have to wait until my finances are REALLY good.

I went to a couple semesters of college for Deaf Studies hoping to become an interpreter, but finances and travel got in the way and I didn't continue. I continued to learn anyway and Sign any chance I got. It's one of those things that if you don't use it, you lose it. One day, a friend from church asked me "If I bring someone to church who is Deaf, will you interpret?". I was a bit taken aback and intimidated, but I agreed and I've been doing that for the last year or so. It's a challenge, but I LOVE it! I met a wonderful woman who is Deaf and SO patient with me. I'm fluent enough that she gets learn about God, like REALLY learn, for the first time in her life, and she blesses me with her patience and friendship.

So, why goal #51? Because there are always new signs to learn and I'm not as fluent as I'd like to be. So, I went online today and learn two new signs: Behold (like "behold, the lamb of God"). And Abundant. Hey! I just got a great idea from a friend of mine and fellow blogger; maybe I should do a quick video blog of the differnt signs I learn. Then, others can learn too! I make no promises of how often I will do this. I'll put it on my next 101 list, but I will try. Maybe this weekend, I'll record a blog in Sign and then translate into written words. That sounds like fun!