The last few months we have been nomads and it has been hard on us and our family dynamics. I honestly don't remember the last time Chelsea and I were on a real date just the two of, not worrying about the kids or babysitters etc. We have had so much to do and so many things to focus on that we have not had time to just be our selves and just be at peace with each other. As we are here in VA and learning a ton in our classes, teaching classes, being in community constantly, Chelsea has been feeling drained. As I teach I have felt drained as well.

The changes are vast and we are changing with them. Please remember us in these times.

Was talking with a friend last night and he mentioned the possibility of getting kicked out of a country if he went to visit some friends there. When I asked him why, it was about not being able to keep quiet about the atrocities he may see. My friend is great and I know he is sincere but it made me think about America. Do we have atrocities here we over look? Do we have things that go on here that others may think of in the same way that we have grown callous to over time?

I think of my brother and all the hardships he has gone through. I think of his classmates from high school and the stories they would tell of what would happen to them at home. Children who would be locked in rooms or closets until the bus would pick them up, children who were sexually abused, children who were physically abused, and the list could go on. Some responses the students gave was well I am deaf they are hearing who would believe me over them? Then watching my brother who is very smart and should easily find a job, but could not. I went down to help him find a job one summer and saw first hand how bad it could get. Signs that said "Help Wanted", phone calls and interviews scheduled and when he showed up the response was umm sorry we don't need help anymore, umm sorry we can't do the interview now. Yet if I called the same companies back and ask if they still needed help they would say yes we do come on in, or sure we can do an interview now. Even when confronted about it they would just clam up and walk away and not even want to deal with us.

At the DMV my brother applied to get a new drivers license and they were shocked and said well he is deaf he can't drive. Or asked questions like can he read? Can he even get a license? Then they would talk and get a bunch of people to watch and ohh and ahh at the fact he was signing and applying for a drivers license. At the doctors office they will refuse to see him. A friend of mine from Greensboro woke up in the hospital with a tube in his side one day after being rushed to the emergency room and had no idea what it was for or why it was needed. When someone asked they said it was too hard to ask him and they were not going to get an interpreter and just did it. After a couple of us fought for an interpreter he got one, but still come on you don't just say things like.

So I wonder what others are there? Are there other groups of people like the deaf who many have no idea about? I know about the deaf because of what my brother has has gone through and being part of the deaf culture growing up. I wonder at what atrocities are here that I have over looked and am blind to without really looking into. What is in America that we just overlook and ignore as we have grown up and become used to?

So I thank my friend for bring that up, not to hurt his feelings or question his motives, but for making me think about what my own country needs and what in my country am I blind to?