THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING IMPORTANT

To many times to count and I wish I could forget each and every one of them. But alas that is not a path available. However it does happen less and less as I mature and I am less and less embarrased when I do it. It usally happens when I am feeling real insecure or if I am trying to invade a conversation I do not belong in.

I don't think I'm compulsive about it, but I'm sure guilty of that kind of behavior. And like Joanne, I'd like to forget all of those incidences, but the best I can do is learn from them.

I find that the older that I get, the less that I have the need to "shoot my mouth off", to my later regret. I have pulled some doozies in my time, though!

Phoenix isnt that the truth, I just love getting older so much matters less and less.

I have been hearing impaired since i was a very small boy. This means i speak louder than most people, and remain unaware of it, most of the time. These days, curmudgeon-like, i care little for the opinion which others have of me (there being one special exception). So, when i entertain myself with public nonsense, i turn the volumn up, and the audience be damned. Making a fool of myself has been a life-long habit, might as well enjoy it.

Good for you Setanta, less attention paid to people like me the better.

Setanta, didn't know that. (Didja know I'm deaf?) I actually have the opposite problem -- I spoke too loudly when I first started losing my hearing as a teenager, and got self-conscious about it, and now generally speak too softly. I can overcome it if I think about it -- I love public speaking and I'm good at it -- but my default mode is too damn quiet.

I suffered a severe injury when i was three years old. Toddlers are not noteworthy for their quiet behavior as it is--my hearing could be improved with an exspensive and risky surgery--but the amount of return is only going to be about 15% at best, so i've never given it serious consideration. I've learned to adjust, although some minor problems remain. Lovey is always telling me to turn down the tv when i watch at her house, and when people ride anywhere with me, and i start up the jeep, the stereo usually blasts them into the back seat. Apart from those minor inconveniencies, i'm loud and i'm proud.

I'm also pretty deaf. I've always had a poor aural memory, and probably some hearing loss. Mostly though the hearing started to go in my 40's. Hearing aids have mitigated the problems somewhat, but recently I had my hearing retested. It's declining at a steadily increasing rate, and becoming assymetrical. The audiologist couldn't find any reason for the trend, or the asymetry, so today I go to a doctor who specializes in hearing disorders.

I did a lot of shooting in my time, but blame most of the hearing loss to work I did investigating fatigue life in exotic metals.