The volume on my life has gone down. My ears have long been subpar, but in the past few months they are even less responsive to those invisible vibrations that connect us to each other. The progression of appointments has slowly led to surgery, which will hopefully bring some of the sound back. In the meantime it has been my chance to join the majority of the population who are dealing with some physical inconvenience or another. Migraines. Hip replacements. High blood pressure. Glaucoma. Seizures. The sheer variety astounds me, in that it underscores the marvelous fact that so many things go well. For the person who is dealing with joint pain that can be a small consolation, to count up the uncountable list of problems they do not have. 

Perhaps you have sensed it when you fill out one of those lengthy medical forms. Whole columns of conditions that you can sail past because you have not experienced them and forgot to be grateful about it. 

Today I am grateful.

One of the ironies is that listening is precious to me. Hearing what other people have to say is high on my list of daily blessings, and there have been times in the last few weeks when I smiled as if I heard, but I didn't really. 

I had a private lip reading teacher in elementary school. I can see her face and the pile of hair so popular in the late sixties. On a whim I taught our fourth baby sign language, and was delighted when she mastered a four word sentence before she could walk. 

"More nursing Mama please."

The boy in this picture is speaking to the ocean. He is asking for more. I have a feeling the waves obliged him. Even if by some anomaly of the tides they do not, he still had a terrific day at the beach. 

I am asking without words for more volume. We will see if God obliges me. Even if He does not, a lifetime of melodies and voices and birdsongs has been miraculous.