Cornucopia: Gratitude (ABCDErian+4)
Gratitude (ABCDErian+4)
By Kate Chamberlin
November 2025
I embrace gratitude for:
A apricot jam on lightly toasted homemade whole wheat bread
B Bees that produce our honey from wild flowers and clover
C Communication devices, especially my laptop computer Windows 11 and NVDA screen reader
D David, my husband of 55-years and counting
E Eggs, be they scrambled, stuffed omelet, or deviled
F Friends in Behind Our Eyes and the American Council of the Blind Community
G Gardening for exercise and a bountiful harvest of vegetables and flowers
H Hands that can still tie a shoelace, learn Braille, and caress a great-grandchild
I Ice cream, homemade with orange syrup and a cherry on top
J Justice through-out our court system, based on our Constitution of the United States of America
K Kindred spirits who are kind to Kittens, kangaroos, and Kate
L Laundry washer and dryer in my home
M My mother, who brought me up to respect authority, to appreciate the beauty in Nature, and to advocate for myself
N Nana, my grandmother with whom I have a spiritual bond
O Opulence of my life, even though I have a dual sensory deficiency
P Prose for the entertainment it provides
Q Quilts I made for each of my children and the Coin Quilt I’m working on
R Running brooks and streams of clear, clean, cool water
S Sisters and Brothers in Christ
T Telephne visits with family and friends, as well as shopping
U University of Rochester NY, where I earned my Masters Degree and Permanent Teacher’s Certificate
V Virtual internet connections that keep me in touch with life and the ever changing world
W Warm clothing and bedding
X X-ray and other technologies that detect cancer before it becomes deadly
Y Youthful exuberance and work ethic of my progeny
Z Zippers that don’t seperate at the end
P People who understand not to pet my guide dog while she’s in harness
O Open-mindedness to the fact that other people have issues, too
E Existential movement toward enlightenment
M Melodic burbling brook in the meadow, schussing of a breeze in the pines, thrumming heart with love for you.
Cornucopia: The Secret of The Sound
The Secret of the Sound
By Kate Chamberlin
November 13,2025
Click
Plunk plunk
Squeak squeak squeak
Clump clump clump clump
I’m re-learning the world around me, one sound at a time. I didn’t realize how much my hearing had declined over the years until the Oticon Intent3 prescription hearing aid re-awakened my wonder at the forgotten nuances of sound.
The click of the electric baseboard heater told me the bathroom was getting warm, but how long had the faucet been dripping?
For years, I thought I walked quietly down the hallway in my soft comfy slippers, but now, I hear the clump clump of each step, accompanied by the squeaking of the floor. When did my home get so noisy and old?
Later in the day, when I was walking through the dining room, I heard a shushing sound. I stopped to try to figure out what made that shushing sound. It stopped. I started walking again and I heard the shushing again. Then, I noticed when I moved forward, I heard the shushing. Apparently, my Oticons picked up the air movement as I walked and turned off when I stopped. Or was it my curly, grey hair whispering into the microphone?
I must agree with the Oticon testimonials that say: My only regret is that I didn’t get a hearing aid years ago.
Tickity tick tick. I knew my old manual typewriter made a clacking sound, yet, I didn’t realized my laptop keyboard also makes a sound as I type.
Tick Tock chime chime
I can hear the tall case clock Dave’s Dad made loudly marking off my life’s longevity.
The Oticon has rekindled my childlike curiosity about the sounds surrounding me.
I wonder if I’ll hear myself losing weight?