Ok, here's what happened:
Feb 28th, Fur Rondy Parade in Anchorage, Alaska. I am part of The Antique Power Club of Alaska, Branch #52 of EDGE&TA (Early Day Gas Engine & Tractor Association). I took part in the parade on my 1942 Ford 2N Tractor.
I strongly suggest you open a new tab/ window at this time and do a GOOGLE IMAGE SEARCH for "Ford 2N" to clarify things, because I CAN'T ROLL UP THE WINDOWS, OR TURN THE DEFROSTERS OFF!! (you will laugh when you see it)
So After the parade, I have to drive it back to A&M RV Center. This is where we host the INDOOR SHOW. Now, it's below zero, snowing...etc...etc..
I end up stuck in 3 lanes wide traffic at a stop light waiting for the green light. The light is 12 minutes long, ad this particular intersection crosses the SEWARD HIGHWAY, which at that intersection is a one way and is called either GAMBLE or INGRA. Yes you can look it up on google maps, yahoo maps....etc...etc..for those who like to nitpick...
Now this intersection I was headed NORTH, so I was at the INGRA Intersection, and I was in the turn lane, which happened to be the CENTER LANE. To my right was a small pickup truck, to my front was a small car, and to my left was the ass end of a flatbed truck. This flatbed truck was diesel, and was spewing jet black exhaust out idling at this light. To clue you in, I had 1 foot between me and the car in front, 2 feet to my left was this truck with the exhaust dumping right at me (refer to google image) and to my rear behind the tractor was a minivan that was 6 inches away from the 3-point (I thought overly stupid!!!). To clue you in, it was heavy traffic, and literally the lights are so long one way and so short the other way, that when the light turns green, everyone floors the throttle. and you can MAYBE get 7 cars through on a good day!
So while waiting/ coughing-gagging, I look at the other drivers....they are dying in their cars, they all have the defrosters on (sucking this horrid black cloud into the passenger compartment) and I can see the other drivers coughing and gagging as I am.
When the light turned green (I couldn't see it!) the truck driver planted his foot firmly on the floor with the throttle sandwiched between. The cloud was so thick that I could not see the car in front of my tractor (1 foot away) with the HEADLIGHTS ON!! Did I mention that it was BROAD DAYLIGHT?
So March 1st...My voice was gone. 45 days later....it's still gone.
So I have learned ASL (American Sign Language) and am making do with what I can. People call, and say "I can't hear you!! Hello??" I say (ha ha---no voice) "no shit you dumbass!" and they can't even hear that!
So...I have permanently lost my voice. My wife is ready to kill me, my friends have deserted me, and work is incredibly hard to scare up with no voice.
Mute is not considered a disability. Sorry. Besides, I do better on my own.
So I have made quite a few friends in the deaf community, as the "deafies" have taken a liking to my way of doing things (helping people regardless)...
I have a deaf friend teaching me ASL, and there's a few restaurants that are now more patient to those whom can't talk or hear!
It sucks. Yes. Life's a bitch, then she has puppies too.
I have had my entire life re-organized involuntarily, but that's no problem.
You learn a lot about life in 45 days when something like this happens.
So...that's the scoop of poop.
AlaskaStarStatistics: Posted by AlaskaStar — Thu Apr 16, 2009 2:30 am
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