Zebra Stripe?

...yes, you heard me right. Today I almost got a zebra stripe hearing aid. Did you even know there was such a thing? For my entire life I have dealt with a hearing loss considered moderate to severe. In middle school I got 2 hearing aids and hated them. I remember attempting to wear them to my algebra class with Ms. Bradley. They sounded weird and I really didn't think they were "cool." I remember one morning in my parents bedroom, I was saying goodbye to my dad before I left for school. He asked me if I had been wearing my hearing aids. I had to tell him no and I just started crying. Why? I was afraid my friends would think they were weird. I was afraid I wouldn't have a boyfriend. My dad then used this time to teach me a life lesson at the age of 13: my true friends wouldn't make fun of me and that if someone didn't want to be my boyfriend because I had a hearing aid, then he wasn't good enough for me anyway. Very true, but still hard to believe when you are 13 years old.
Fast forward 6 years to college. I attempted hearing aids again. I still hated them. I still thought that friends might not think they were cool and that no one would ask me out. So, in my desk at Clemson they sat.
Fast forward to 2005. I finally decided I had had enough of the "what?" "huh?" "repeat that, please." I did get one hearing aid for my right hear and life changed! I could hear a clock tick, I could hear sirens, I didn't have to ask people to repeat themselves (as much). My audiologist suggested that I get 2 hearing aids, but at the time I could only afford one at the cost of $2000+. Good news though! My insurance at work will now cover the cost of a hearing aid every two years. WhooHoo! That was the best news I've heard in a long time...no pun intended :) Today I met with an audiologist in Greer and in 2 weeks I should have a new hearing aid for my left ear. The matching one won't come to 2011, but I am so excited. I did order one that was considered champagne colored, although I could have picked one out that was lavender, light blue, silver, pearl white, zebra, Hawaiian floral, or orange. I think Chris would have probably picked out the orange one. I thought a color might be fun, but if the lifespan of a hearing aid is 5-7 years, I really should probably get something simple. Do you think I should get something different? Left me know. You only live once, right?