New Wetsuit

I finally got a lovely replacement for my lost wetsuit. Turns out that wetsuit would not have been good enough anyways. It took a few detours to other places, but the final store was the Sound Diving Center in Bremerton.

The lady who helped us (me) was extraordinary. It was an experience I had never had before.

1) She talked to me. From the beginning. Almost always when I go to stores with a friend, store people talk exclusively to the friend.
2) Even after J. helped by talking for me on some things. she continued to talk to me. Has never happened before. Even when store people talk to me and friend, they stop talking to me when friend provides any communication help.
3) She was so patient with my light writer typing, willingly read the display screen, so helpful and friendly to me. I assume there is an ease and difference in using the (new) light writer vs. whiteboards or paper. But still surprising. Most people have no patience for my mode of communication.

J. says the only question she asked of him was if I was deaf, if I could hear. I did not hear him ask the question. I am sure there are things she said that I did not here, especially at the register. I think I was getting tired and missing more of the spoken words. But she had patience and kindness.

Unexpected. So different, so nice. So happy to have the light writer. So happy to have it work so very well this time. Not a typical experience at all. To very special lady very much lots of thanks. I oops and signed thank you before remembering I needed to type it for her. But other that went well.

My wetsuit. A two-piece. Much much thicker than I had planned. My old one was 3mm core, 2mm arms and legs, a one-piece full-length suit (long-sleeved, long-legged). But lady got much thicker suits to try, she said yes it is that cold. The base/bottom is 6.5mm and the top/sleeves/jacket is 7mm.

May be J. and I go kayaking again tomorrow, with my new wetsuit more comfortable for me. So exciting. Still need paddle leash of course. But better now.

May be soon get new boogie board and actually go swim in puget sound finally.

So much money. But so worth it and not as much as expected for two piece suit. So happy with having wetsuit again. So comfortable to wear good wetsuit.

Pictures below. The bottom piece first, then the top piece/jacket/sleeves.