Everyone keeps asking when I'll retire. And what do I DO at work all day? Today is the anniversary of the day I got the habit in the convent. I leapt over the wall and returned to the world four years later, but I'm on my 4th or 5th career now since that day in 1955...that's 53 years ago! Holy toledo!!
Here's a story I've been working on for the past couple of days for World Around You (WAY) magazine. World Around You was Cathy's creation. It used to be printed several times a year, but now it's gone online. It's an e-zine for deaf teenagers. My co-worker Tim is the editor, but I offer my services now and then.
Through the miracle of videophone (above), we interviewed Esther Dockter Frelich, the subject of our "Deaf Woman of the Month" article. (I say "we" because in the photo, it's my boss on the lower right-hand side of the screen, with Mrs. Frelich on the upper left. I am too shy to manage the videophone in ASL.) But it was my idea to write about Esther. The family has fascinated me ever since I worked with her son Tim on another project a couple of years ago. It helps that they are from North Dakota. ("North Dakota is my home, where the indians used to roam...North Dakota, North Dakota...whooooop!!!"--surely you recall that lovely melody!)
Anyway, it's both Women's History Month and Deaf History Month, so when we picked Esther, we had a double-header. Esther Frelich and her husband, Philip, produced nine outstanding deaf citizens who are all alumni of Gallaudet. For a university where about one graduate in ten has a job one year after graduation, the Frelich kids are batting nine for nine!! And they include one of the three noted deaf actresses in the U.S.: Phyllis Frelich, who won a Tony award for her performance as Sara in "Children of a Lesser God" on Broadway; Marlee Matlin (who won the Academy Award for the movie role); and Sesame Street's Linda Bove. The other siblings are outstanding in their chosen fields, too. Esther Frelich is truly a Deaf icon.
St Joseph is also the Patron Saint of Canada, although you wouldn't know it as the event was completely ignored by 99.999999999999% of Canadians.
ReplyDeleteOh, make that 100%.
Interesting post, what an amazing family. I havent seen those deaf acresses performing, but I did see Marlee Matlin dancing on Dancing With The Stars this week, I thought it was quite astonishing that she could dance with such great rhythm and she couldn't hear the music.
So when ARE you going to retire?
Thanks to the up-to-date information I received on this blog, I was able to wish a happy feast day to George's piano teacher this afternoon!
ReplyDeleteWhat an incredible family!!! Just proves again how the right attitude can overcome seemingly impossible obstacles!!
ReplyDeleteI think I like what you do and can see why you're not in a hurry to retire!!!!
I remember that N. Dakota song! My Mom, born in 1923, sang that to us as kids.
ReplyDeleteNorth Dakota is my home.
Where the Indians used to roam.
Hiiiiiiiiii oooooooo!
Hiiiiiiiiii oooooooo!
North Dakota, North Dakota,
Where the Indians used to roam.
(The "Hiiiiiii ooooo" is sung while quickly, repeatedly, clapping your open hand over your mouth to make that cheesy "war whoop" wah-wah sound).
Do you think this song would pass today's Political Correctness Tests with flying colors?
:-) :-)
Another song she used to sing from ND of the 1930's: When her H.S. girl's basketball team played the little town of Hebron ND (which apparently consisted largely of German-Americans proud of their heritage), the Hebron cheerleaders would chant:
Was ist das?
Was ist das?
Das ist Hebron!
Das ist was!
(I've always wondered if that last line is proper German, or instead is Germlish?)
-L. Bruns