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Back On The Water Again

At the age of nineteen, I went from hard of hearing to deaf in an instant. I was water skiing on my bare feet and caught a toe in the wake. I hit the water in a not-so-graceful cartwheel. When I climbed into the boat, I just figured that I had water in my ears and that my remaining hearing would come back. It didn't.

As fate would have it, I attended a university that fall and was placed in a dorm with hard of hearing and deaf students. I learned American Sign Language and embraced a deaf life.

Twenty six years after becoming deaf, I put my feet back on the water again at the age of 45. I was inspired by 67-year-old Judy Myers, who took up barefoot water skiing at the age of 53. Judy introduced me to 61-year-old Joann O'Connor. Both ladies can barefoot on one foot and backwards. They both have taught me that age is just a number and you're never too old to pursue the passions that you enjoy.

I want to be just like these gals when I grow up!

Submitted by Karen Putz