Things change. That’s for sure. The husband and I are are coming up soon on the one-year anniversary of our retirement, and retirement is the biggest change we’ve made in many a year, with plenty of adjustments to make and challenges to face, but it has been very positive for us, I’m happy to say.
If I admit to being retirement age, then I must admit, also, to some of the changes that are inevitable as I move into that age/stage. In my case, it’s hearing loss and getting hearing aids. As any teacher knows, and any hearing specialist will confirm, spending 27 years in a classroom can be hard on the ears. My classroom for most of those 27 years was particularly bad because it had metal walls. So lots of voices, and ventilation systems noise, and bells ringing loudly, have finally taken their toll. (I should probably add into the mix those very loud concerts I used to enjoy — including Jimmy Hendrix and Janis Joplin!) The sum total is that I now need hearing aids.
But I’m really jazzed about them because all of a sudden I can hear nuances again! I can hear my daughter’s quiet voice without having her repeat everything she says to me! My husband no longer mumbles. And, I decided that since I need hearing aids, I deserve some special stuff to go along with them. So along with the hearing aids, I ordered a bluetooth “streamer” so that I can listen to audiobooks (or music) through my hearing aids. Sweet! I’m going to enjoy many, many audiobooks with such a nice system!
So, yes, big changes in my life, but that’s okay. I’ll be enjoying my audiobooks more than ever, and I will keep foremost in my mind something very wise that Alan Watts said about change:
The only way to make sense out of change is to plunge into it, move with it, and join the dance.
A Fondness For Reading 
i think it is def the school not concerts! tom, the retired teacher, has hearing problems, but we both went to many, many loud concerts, and my hearing is just fine. :<)) so happy for you that you are able to hear again.
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Thanks, Nan. Yup…school environments are terrible for the ears.
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Well, I already have hearing damage from concerts and the hubby has been suggesting for a few years now that I get checked. I’ve been scared to but that bluetooth device just might sell me on them. 😉 I’m glad you can hear your family now!
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Thanks, Kristen. My doc and I have been monitoring my hearing for many years and that first visit was to get a baseline so that we could see any progression of hearing loss. Most of your hearing loss is likely within the “normal” hearing loss range (so many of us enjoyed loud concerts!) but I encourage you to have your hearing checked now so you have that baseline. I had a great audiologist in Kirkland, so if you don’t have an one your doc recommends, I can send you his name.
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My hearing isn’t what is used to be, but it’s not terrible. My husband’s, on the other hand, is becoming quite an issue. He probably has damage from teaching, as well as playing the drums in a small band in our basement many years ago. And riding his motorcycle probably hasn’t helped either, although he now wears earplugs for that. He has tinnitus, so that doesn’t help the situation. I think he’s getting close to going to see about hearing aids, especially if they will give him some relief from the tinnitus.
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