Ode (to my hearing aids)

Source: http://de.freeimages.com/photo/hearing-impaired-1307604

Dear hearing aid, when we first met, it wasn’t love at first sight. You were small and alone, but I didn’t really want you. Our cooperation was not from the heart in the beginning. I did carried you, and you did your best to let me hear better. But somehow I also felt blocked by you. For example, when I had to run to the train or otherwise hurry, it was as if you wanted to stop me. Meanwhile I know that this was my own resistance against you, I had not yet accepted you in my life.
Later, you became even smaller in the meantime, you got company from the hearing aid in the other ear. Even then our relationship wasn’t quite cordial, although I already realized then that I couldn’t go on without you. I would rather call it a hate-love relationship now.

When my hearing gradually decreased even more, you grew. You were no longer in my ear, but behind it and, to be honest, I found you ugly. Not fair, I know you had to work much harder for me and ultimately gave your best. Nevertheless, I began to appreciate you a little more, because I was now sure that I could no longer function properly without you.
When little by little I saw what additional devices you could connect to, it became clear to me: I need you. With you life is much better and easier.
In this process, you were the more sensible one: you let everything go over you and never protested. And you have always done what you could do best: support me as much as possible.

Yes, yes, you think maybe I didn’t notice your great loyalty and reliability and I din’t care. But you have it wrong, dear hearing aid!
You will never become my great love, but hate for you will certainly no longer exist and I have learned to accept you. You are now part of my life. From the moment I wake up and activate you until the moment I put you to rest when I go to sleep, you work for me and you are my second ear. You are faithful, almost never let me down and I try to take care of you as best I can. That’s the deal we have.
There will hardly be a better relationship between us, but I would like to tell you something: Thank you hearing aid that you exist and thank you for everything you do for me. I couldn’t live without you anymore and I hope we will be a couple for a long time.

NB: the original text has been published in German on 27/11/2015