Today marks exactly two weeks since I entered into the world of hearing like others do, or as closely as modern technology is letting me.

Two weeks ago, I heard my own voice for the first time in my life.  What I really sound like. Not what I heard for the last 50 years.

It was absolutely shocking to me to hear what I sound like. It is a day I will never forget for as long as I live.

I knew almost immediately that I wanted to celebrate this day.

I also knew earlier than today was too soon.

I had work to do.

The days since that day have been spent working on the job of learning to hear.

They call it transitioning.

And let me tell you, it is much more work than I expected the day they told me they could help me.

I have not spent much time with other people, other than my husband and children, and those who I have seen in passing, during these two weeks.

I have done a lot of stuff mind you.

My husband, children  and I have gone a lot of places.

But we have done this somewhat privately.

I needed time to get used to my voice. I needed to get used to the new sounds. I needed time to process all that was new and changed.

Processing what my voice sounds like has taken almost the whole two weeks. Working on my volume, nuances of speech, and all that it takes to communicate effectively has changed since I now hear. I was basically learning from others reactions to me in the past, and now, I am learning by hearing my voice, by actually hearing me.

As I said above, I knew two weeks ago, that getting together with friends was going to be something I wanted to do.

So a few days after I got my hearing aids, I called a small group of my IP sisters. (Their husbands work with my husband, and well, we are all like family in this company, so we affectionately call each other IP sisters.)

I wanted it to be a small enough group that we could talk, celebrate and I could hear them the best I could.

Today was that day!

We met for lunch, and it was everything I hoped it would be.

We laughed, we cried, we laugh/cried lol, and we celebrated.

Getting together with them was like ointment on my soul.

Every day I learn something more about myself in this journey, and every day I appreciate what it means to hear, as best as I possibly can, what others in the world are hearing. That was worth celebrating.

Thank you to my IP sisters, for celebrating with me.

Our lunch will always be a sacred moment for me!

Ointment on my soul indeed.

#happyhearing