A Deaf Friend

We just watched on THE TODAY SHOW the cast of CODA interviewed. As in the movie, in real life all were deaf except one. They are up and/or have received all kinds of awards and recognition. We saw the movie and feel they well deserve the recognition they are getting. CODA means Children of Deaf Adults. Maybe I misunderstood, but one of the deaf actors in praising the one who could talk, in hand sign language said she even had to change her accent to make the movie. Which may me wonder, do deaf people have accents, like southern accents, New England accents, British? And so on? Maybe it was a private joke. Anyway, that reminded me of my old co-worker Joe. Joe was happily married to a deaf lady and they had 3 small children. His wife, with their kids on board, made a driving error and had a wreck, which killed all three children. After it became the past Joe divorce her. He couldn’t live with her any longer. On his off time he just wanted to be alone. A bought a lot in the North Georgia mountains. On his off days he and his faithful dog spent the night on his mountain lot. No cabin. He slept inside his truck and his dog tied to a rope which was tied to a tree or something near. One morning he woke up to find his faithful dog mauled, probably attacked by a bear. The dog probably barked and pitched a fit, but Joe, totally deaf slept through it. Why, I don’t know, but I think probably his children’s deaths and his dog’s death, all violently, added to what Joe did next: He quit the post office and joined a motorcycle gang. Then the whole gang moved to Florida. That was many years ago. I hope he found peace.