Deaf Don't Mean Dumb

I was on my way from aztec, New Mexico, to Laramie Wyoming, to see my uncle, Chuck Salisbury, who was suffering from cancer. He was something of a favorite with me, and I took off work to spend a little time with him, and my Aunt Hazel.

Coming into Canyon City, Colorado, I realized I was hungry, and decided to stop for coffee and a bite to eat. As I drove my old GMC truck into the gravel parking lot of a restaurant, I parked near to an eighteen-wheeler, and when I hopped out, the truck driver shared a smile and allowed that we had chosen a good place to get a bite to eat, and a cup of "chainoil"(coffee). We traded names and destinations and went on in.

The trucker went around to the opposite side of the counter, which was open so that the waitress was in the middle, and I gazed across the open square at all of them. I think the truckdriver was telling his friends about me, who I was, and where I was bound for..

As I waited for the happy little waitress, I scanned the place, and in a booth at the back, there were two young people, conversing in sign language. I got into eye-dropping (which is what deaf people call it, when other signing folks watch what they say). Suddenly the young lady looked straight at me and signed the phrase"who you?" I replied with my hands, giving my name and name sign, and she asked "where you learn sign?". I learned in College, was my reply. After a short conversation she turned to her male companion, and of course when she turned her eyes away, all the voices in the cafe were gone, except for that of her man friend.

I was suddenly shocked into reality, when I looked up to see the waitress in front of me, and as she placed the menu before me, she raised her voice to a roar and asked "what do you want?" I managed not to smile, frown or puke, and just spun the menu around to face her, and pointed at, coffee, hamburger & fries. She grabbed the menu and got on with her business. She was a good waitress and had hot coffee there in no time, then she walked over to confront the truck driver and let him know that I was deaf. Of course the driver didn't think so, and soon enough, a wager was made.

When the waitress brought my hamburger, she patted me on the arm, to get my attention, and fairly shouted "are you deaf?" No, was my reply, I am MUTE! The waitress crossed the floor to stick her hand out and receive her reward. "Pay me" she laughed. Then a low conversation ensued, and the waitress turned quite red. She kept bringing the coffee, but never again looked straight at me. On the way out, I managed not to speak, but left the lady a gratuity.

As I drove north toward Colorado Springs, Denver, and Laramie, I started whistling and I wondered what was said, after I left the restaurant. I suppose that waitress now understands the difference between deaf and mute. I started to sing, as I drove along, and was happy, ever so happy, that I was not deaf, or mute.

In 1999, I walked into the Dairy Queen in our little town of Aztec, New Mexico and bellied up to the counter. In this small joint one can see straight thru the kitchen and service area and observe any vehicle getting window service. A deaf girl, whom I had recently visited with, was getting an order, and recognized me. She waved and began signing a mile a minute. How are you Bruce? Have you been to spa? Are you over being ill? We had quite a conversation!

The ladies working that fast food place were watching us sign, and as soon as the counter girl got to me, her manager picked up a note pad and pencil, flopping it right down in front of me, with a pleasant smile. Once again, I managed not to laugh, but, taking the pad, I spun it around, wet the pencil lead in my mouth (like grandpa used to do) and on the bottom righthand corner of that pad.....writ a large X. When I turned the pad back around, and looked up at those ladies, they all had slack jaws and odd expressions. I enjoyed that for a short moment, and then, launched into hyserical laughter. After a minute, the girls all began laughing, as did the people in line behind me, and some more hearing people learned the lesson.........DEAF DON'T MEAN DUMB!

Bruce Salisbury