May 2009
1 post
You know what would have been difficult? Being on voice rest during the swine flu panic and having to wear a face mask.
April 2009
213 posts
Drum Roll Please….
The verdict is in, I’m good and healthy, folks! I wandered into the doctor’s office first thing Friday morning, checked in without words and didn’t speak until the doc said, “You can talk now.” My first words, you want to know? I had planned this moment for 20 days and said, “Ok.” Yup. That’s what I said: “Ok”. I didn’t know what I even wanted to say. For three weeks I perfected the art of...
A Mute's Glossary-
Should you ever find yourself mute here are some helpful ideas of how to get your message across: I: point at I Me: point at middle of chest You: point at middle of chest of intended He/Her: point vigorously in no particular direction to indicate it is not ‘me’ or ‘you’ Love/ Heart burn: point at heart Think/ Dream/ Wonder: point at head Any sort of past tense: get the person to understand the...
Final Full Day of Silence
Wow! For someone who didn’t talk for twenty days, I stayed incredibly busy! Today was no different and began with some swimming, a final visit to my current chiropractic intern who is graduating and exercise videos. I ran some errands, began to pack for another out of town weekend and then to dinner with AJ, M and D at a yummy Brazilian wine bar. M was sure to let me know frequently that he...
“This is weird. I think I’m going to cry.”
– Me upon talking again.
The voice dial function on my phone has mocked me for weeks. Today I get my revenge.
On my way to my first words and testiment.
Some guy saw me write in my book at a bar. He cut his eye on me. He’s gonna get beat by a mute!
Pretty much, I have the BEST boyfriend. He downloaded Tumblr to his phone so I can blog as I forgot my phone at home. Love.
I’m with some British people. Should I write in my notebook with an accent?
At a bar with a woman who has gone on voice rest and a man who’s brother did the same. See, I’m not a liar!
Final Silent Thoughts
I geared up so much for this vow of silence I’m having a hard time thinking about going back to the world of the verbal. I’m anxious about learning to reuse my vocal chords properly, scared of set backs caused by work or just irresponsibility and just a little nervous about joining the real world again. I definitely would never had thought that I would have a nagging part of me that would prefer...
I’m pretty sure my cat is getting depressed. Even though I am around a lot more, I’m not talking. I wonder if he thinks I’m mad at him.
After tomorrow I won’t have to choose my purse based on if it can hold my notebook.
Day 18
The next to the next to the last day. I’ve almost made it and today was a day of rest and celebration. Okay, that wasn’t what I set out to do, but it was what happened. The toll of a long weekend of fun, alcohol and being incredibly silently social wore down on me hard. I decided to take advantage of my situation and slept until my body said I was done.
Sleeping in, truly sleeping in, has been a...
Today is my last full day of silence. I think I’ll rather miss it.
Tonight was a cold night as we walked to the gym. I learned that it is hard to enunciate when your lips are frozen.
“You need closed caption or something!”
– My boyfriend. I think he’s over this.
Oh the support of friends and family...
A few weeks ago when I learned that I would have to go on voice rest, I sent out an email to friends and family to inform them that I wouldn’t be a good phone pal for the next 20 days.
Thanks all!
Here’s what I said:
I’m taking a break from talking, resting my voice, no more words for three long weeks. Pen and paper and maybe some pre-written post cards will be my best friends....
Wow. I have been tired all day. I’m not even kidding that being silent is hard work. Figuring out how to communicate is challenging, to sat the least!
Day 17
A day that ranged from the intelligent to the idiotic… The day started with a visit to the gym. I arrived and realized that I forgot my gym card at AJ’s house- something I had been dreading during this silent time. So I moseyed on up to the counter with my ID in hand and made eye contact with the man at the desk. I literally forgot to tell him that I had ‘lost my voice’ and simply mouthed “I don’t...
Today the thing I am looking forward to about speaking again is telling my boyfriend I love him in response to him telling me. He might start thinking I’m emotionally unavailable soon.
I think, if someone paid me, I could be a mute for a year. I don’t think my boyfriend would like it though.
The beginning of the end
My last hand full of days of silence crept up on me. I’m surprised at how quickly and easily the entire process has been. I am anxious to see what is going on with my vocal chords and am equally anxious to start using my voice again. There is a part of me that could stay this way. Silence has begun to mean peace, time, and security. Yesterday began with sleeping in mainly because I got stuck in...
