The Many Awhiles of AC

Let's recap my hearing aid situation. Just for awhile.

They broke awhile ago and would have cost a bundle to be repaired with little promise for future wear. It took awhile to find that out, and then another awhile to get a hearing test and another awhile after that to get a fitting.

After taking awhile for the new hearing aids to come in, it took another awhile to determine that they weren't working for me and yet a further awhile to get another appointment to discuss the matter.

It then took awhile to get my next (the second) new pair and awhile to determine that one of the two didn't fit properly. This pair worked fairly well but the right one was uncomfortable. I would keep them, but the one needed to be re-made.

Of course, said re-making took awhile, it came in earlier this week, and it hassn't taken me much of awhile to figure out that there is still a problem. I called for yet another appointment today, but it will, however unfortunately, take awhile to squeeze me in doncha know and another awhile after that to wait while it is re-made yet again.

That's a lot of awhiles with several whiles thrown in for good measure, but to add insult to injury, when I drove the half-hour drive once again the other day to pick up the first re-make of the second pair (are you still hangin with me?), it hadn't come in yet. So I had to wait awhile for the courier to arrive with the package.

Since I was to wait awhile anyway, I walked over to McDonalds for a bit of breakfast. Guess what? Yup: I had to wait awhile. First I waited in line for awhile and then I had to wait quite a darn awhile for my order to be processed. I'm not sure what was so exotic about my request, but it sure took awhile to cook. As I waited, people would come in, place their order, and leave with it while I stood there looking dumb dumber.

It's the way it goes for me. I am so often the forgotten man standing on the sidelines awhile-ing away my time. I'm sure I am the only one this happens to. If it sometimes occurs to you, I invite you to sit for awhile and write your story.

Eh? What's That You Say?

Not too long ago I posted that I was holding my next vacation in my hands. You remember that don't you: $3000, more than my first car etc?



But wait, there's more.

Apparently $3000 doesn't buy you much anymore because they didn't work at all well for me.

So I give you my updated vacation, flying first class this time.

Ta da!



At least they are working well for me. And my next few years will be more pleasant.

But, my goodness, having a disability (or is it special needs now?) sure gets expensive.

I Hold My Next Vacation in My Hands

There is a high cost to be paid for being afflicted with certain conditions.

I first had my hearing tested shortly after the age of 40, when all seemed not to be as it should. It was then deduced that I didn't yet require hearing aids. Several years later, however, when a class laughed at my answer to a certain question, I knew that I had misheard the question and given an inappropriate answer.

My next hearing test revealed what I had suspected: that I was due for hearing assistance.

That was four aids ago. They only last for about five years, give or take.

The pair that I had been wearing was seven years old, and both aids had already been repaired once, and I knew the end was nigh and planned to get a new pair this year. I wasn't quick enough, however, and one device quit working before I was able to implement my plan. Oh, I could have had it repaired at a cost of $400, but they would only guarantee it for six months. On top of that, I figured the other one would likely give up the ghost at any time.

So, here's the result.



Yes, I have two new hearing devices, so I should, more or less, be set for another five years.

The price ... are you ready for this? ... $3000.

And this is the basic, no frills model. A pair of top-end hearing aids would cost at least double that amount.

It's nice that our provincial government will chip in $500 per device, but two thousand smackeroos for these little, fit-in-my-hand-easily suckers is still a mighty big expense — and one that will crop up again every five years or so until ... until you know when.

Compare one to the size of my thumb.



There is a high cost to be paid for being afflicted with certain conditions.

Consider that our first car cost slightly less than this tiny, little pair of cuties.

That's the equivalent of two round-trips to the West Coast for two ... or one very, very fine camera.

But it beats saying "Eh?"all of the time. I guess. Eh?