Life Underwater

This past two weeks I have developed a much greater empathy for those individuals with a hearing impairment. I have not been able to hear out of my right ear for at least two weeks and it has become a very frustrating situation. I feel as if I am living my life underwater. Sounds are muffled, balance is off, everything seems...thick, especially my brain. My ear makes its own ocean sounds too. If I close my eyes, I am at the beach on a windy afternoon, then I fall over because I can't stand up on my own.
The doctor has me on three kinds of medications for a really bad ear infection. I thought that once you hit menopause you were immune to certain childhood afflictions...tonsillitis and ear infections....guess not! In the past week I have said "huh" more times that I can count and I have to crank up the TV. I have not, however, had to put my earplugs in to counteract my husbands snoring so there is a positive side to everything. I do have to tell you that dancing with no balance has proved to be a challenge (bravo Marlee Matlin) and and even bigger challenge is doing a quick costume change, negotiating stilettos and fishnets with no balance borders on hysterical....at least for those watching me. I look like a drunken hooker...
That being said...I certainly hope this whole situation resolves itself before our performance in May..I have never been much of a mermaid and life underwater is uncomfortable unless you are a fish.