Boston Dispatch #3 – Deaf Cyber Punks on the T

Ok, this one I promise will be short because it’s already 1am. Nothing too exciting to report today, truth be told. I finished all the doors in the apartment (they’re all sparkly bronze now) and did my first load of laundry in the basement. Mundane, yes, but first nonetheless. I wandered around the ‘hood for a bit this morning as well, walking west on Mass Ave until I reached Harvard square. Much to Brooke’s dismay, there is either an Indian restaurant or a record store on every block for a good ten blocks. I have a feeling I’ll be spending what little spare time and money I have over the next few years either stinking like curry or filling out my collection of sweet rare vinyl.

Two observations from today, then I’m done. First, I’ve spent the last two nights in the Beacon Hill neighborhood and as such have walked home via Boston Commons and the Public Gardens. Let me just say that if you’re trying to be inconspicuous and nonchalant about rocking the ganja after hours, Beacon Hill is not the place to do it. It’s sparsely populated, quite and dark…not exactly the Pink Floyd reunion tour, kids. Besides, winners don’t do drugs…

Second, I saw this young deaf couple on the train tonight that really got the hamsters running. They couldn’t have been older than 21 or so and both were pretty attractive. They both had the big, over-the-ear hearing aids and I was mesmerized by their communication. It was half signing, half lip reading. What was disturbing was that when the boy turned his head, attached to one of the large hearing aids was what looked like a speaker implanted in his skull directly behind his ear. Has anyone seen this sort of thing before? If so, is it possible to get laser and/or x-ray eye implants?

It’s bedtime. I hope all of you are well. Tell me if you want me to stop sending you these missives.

S.