Hey, dreamchaser, glad that you are asking some questions. Yes, I have tried to teach some sign words to them. They do not know how to fingerspell. My son (an only child from my previous marriage) knows ASL very well. When I came down to visit my son and his family in Albuquerque, New Mexico; he and I signed to each other and he can sign out in public which was a lot better than when he was young because he was ashame of me being deaf and do not want to sign out in public. So I was happy about that. My son will teach them if they are interest in communicating with me when I come down to visit in the future. I was born and raised in USA, and the reason is that I have lots of ancestors in Quebec and Ontario mostly Cree and white. I came to check out my heritage in northern Ontario and I just happen to came into the Manitoulin Island and met my future husband. When I first met him who is Ojibwe (Anishawbe). I made him write down on paper with pen to communicate with me and I use my voice to tell him what he want to know from paper. Later we just dated some and moved in with me as common in law and then got married two years later. That was ten and half years ago. This is our second marriage. His grandchildren (six children) live on the mainland. My grandchildren (also six) live in Albuquerque, New Mexico USA. Yes, I will tell you if I don't want to answer personal questions and mind your own business, but I am happy that I can feel comfortable explaining my personal life to you or anyone who want to know. Okay, enough of that. See you around.
Howdy,,, thanks for the warm reply. Your life seems to have been so full and interesteing. I bet you could put together a pretty good book or two.
Reading about you and your husband kind of reminded me of my own late husband. We didn't meet util late in life and the kids were mostly raised. we swore we would never marry again after a few bad marriages, but boom... We did. That was about the happiest time of my life. It was way too short, but I have to think that God lent him to me for while, and then he took him. I used to wonder how he could have taken him so soon, but then I remember that I may have never experienced him at all. Love is funny that way.
Forgive me, but I can't help but be a little personal. I hate formality and phoniness. People tend to hide from each other all the time, and we are so stupid sometimes that forget that life was made for communicating and sharing each others hopes and dreams, talents and faults, successes and failures. If life meant to be alone without honest communication, then I would rather not live. so if I just blurt out what I am thiking, remember, I may be ignorant sometimes, but at least I am real
I was just pondering what you said about your son being ashamed of your deafness. I bet that was really hard. I am very thankful that my own kids see things witout much prejidism. That is because I was a single mom of 9 for a long time, and we really struggled just to survive. I worked two jobs and still couldn't give them much. Anyway, I know that it cut me deep when I did anything to embarrass them. It still does.
I wonder sometimes why people don't realize that they are only one illness or injury away from deafness? Don't they know that they are immune? I have never understood why people want to feel better than other people. I guess maybe they are just so fearful of being rejected themselves that they look for ways to feel superior. Anyway, little kids, and even worse, teenagers are very sensitive to what their peers will think of them. It is so important to them to fit in. They really don't stop to think that they hurt our feelings when they act embarrassed by us.
so, are you from New Mexico? Did you go to school there? Was it public school or a Deaf school? Are the signs in Canada the same as in US? Is there a different sign language among the Native Indian tribes? I am so curious about everything. Are spiritual signs the same? Teeeheee, by the time you answer all of my questions for the next year or so, you will have that book... I will quit babbling now.... God bless until next time...... Jeanie.. Still chasing the dream of a better tomorrow for all.
to AllDeaf forum. Hey, I am a Deaf 62 years old and a native (Cree/Cherokee) on the First Nation Reserve on Manitoulin Island in Ontario, Canada. I have a hearing husband who is 58 years old and a native (Ojibwe). We have twelve grandchildren. I hope you enjoy reading and posting all the threads here. Have fun with us. See you around. 
