"Wait...Deaf People Can Drive?" and Other Inside Jokes

Jaime and I and some friends went to Seattle Central Community College where Keith Wann (ASL comedian) was performing. It was time to laugh, so we went to the show and we got a chance to do exactly that!

Our favorite part was Wann's description of deaf people driving. The driver wants to take part of the conversation, so he turns himself sideways so he can see. The passengers' job is to notify the driver of anything going on behind him that might be important, like maybe the driver is signing and doesn't see the tree that is straight ahead. The passenger in the back, who is facing the tree, is responsible for announcing "Tree in Path." If another car is about the make a lane change, the front seat passenger, who is facing the side of the car, sees this blinker going off on this other car. He announces to the driver to look over there to the left and make way for the lane change.

When Jaime and I were dating, my mom, who was in the car behind us, said to me later, "Jaime's head was turned sideways the whole time! How did you guys make it here safely!" (hmm...read the above paragraph.) [wink]