Nicole Irvin

Deaf Event #2

Evan Tuccarello and I decided to take a trip to the Pittsburgh Association of the Deaf (PAD) on October 5, 2019. The event
happening that night was a bingo. We thought we would give it a try, even though Evan has never played bingo! Once we
arrived in Pittsburgh, Evan told me he used to live in this neighborhood. Lucky for us, we were able to park at his old house.
We walked up to PAD and the door was locked. We were not sure what to do at this point, so we stood outside waiting. We
thought maybe it was not open yet. Eventually an older woman approached us. She asked if we needed in and quickly
pushed the button on the side of the door. A gentleman opened the door and welcomed us inside. I immediately seen the
bar and told the gentleman we were here for the bingo. He pointed to go downstairs. Once we made it downstairs, people
were lined up to get their bingo cards. The woman taking the money waved us over to her and signed five. We paid her and
she immediately started helping us (I guess she knows we were not regulars). She offered us daubers, but I am a bingo
regular so I came prepared. I wish I would have had time to talk to her, but she was busy taking care of all the players. She
was very friendly and her smile was welcoming.

While walking back to find seats, I smiled and said hello to a few people. It was nice to see a diverse crowd of people
ranging from young, old, black, and white. I also noticed an older woman who was blind. She had someone signing into her
hands in order to communicate. After taking our seats, I was feeling like an outsider. I’m sure because of my own
insecurities and being completely out of my element. I told Evan we need to talk to someone before the bingo begins.
Being a bingo regular, I know how people are once the games begin, they do not want bothered. I started scanning the
room, hoping to make eye contact with someone. I was not having much luck and I definitely was not confident enough to
just approach someone.

Just then, I heard some noise coming from the back of the room. I turned to check it out. A woman was coming down the
stairs (I didn’t even know there was another set of steps in the back). She immediately lit up the room. Her smile was
contagious and started waving to everyone. She walked up to buy her bingo cards and looked at Evan and me and waved. I
knew immediately she was the one I wanted to talk too. She sat down in the back of the room and I turned to look at her.
We made eye contact and I asked her if I could talk to her. I told her I was an ASL student and wanted to ask her some
questions. She immediately signed yes and invited me back, even pulling out a chair for me. I asked what her name was, she
replied Peggy Patterson. I told her my name and said nice to meet you. She asked me who my teacher is for ASL and I told
her Bobbie Jo Duffy. She smiled and replied, “I know her.” Peggy told me she was born deaf and has no other deaf family
members. She attended school at the Western PA School for the Deaf. She has two children and she was married at one
time (he was also deaf), but is now divorced. She told me she lives in Pittsburgh, Baldwin Township to be exact. I told her I
lived in Latrobe and she was very familiar with the area. She said a long time ago she had a boyfriend who was from
Latrobe. She asked me what street I lived on, and after telling her, she knew the area! I asked Peggy if she likes meeting ASL
students and she quickly replied “yes”. At one point in the conversation, two people approached Peggy and asked what I
was doing. She told them I was an ASL student and she was helping me learn. After they left, I asked if everything was ok,
she smiled and said “nosey”!

I told Peggy I was thirsty and asked if she wanted to get a drink. She said no, but invited me to come upstairs with her to the
bar. At the bar, I eventually convinced her to get a drink. I told her I was buying, so pick anything she wanted. I noticed they
were making specialty drinks for Halloween so I decided to order a “spider legs”. I asked Peggy what the sign for “spider
legs” would be and she showed me the sign for spider and then shook her leg. We both started laughing. She decided on
strawberry daiquiri, telling me she LOVES them! The bartender approached us, and I signed our orders. Peggy smiled and
clapped when I finished. I asked her how she communicates with hearing people, and she said it depends. Sometimes reads
lips or a pen and paper. The Pittsburgh Penguins hockey game was on and I asked her if she likes the Penguins. She said no
and she thinks all sports are boring! I laughed and said I understand. We received our drink and it was perfect timing
because Evan texted me the bingo was beginning. I told Peggy we got to go, we are missing the bingo. She laughed and said
she could stay at the bar, I said me too! We made it downstairs and I thanked Peggy for her time.

I sat down to start the first game of bingo. I wasn’t sure how the numbers would be called, but it was simple. The woman
who initially collected the money worked the main board. She also had a separate board that was a replica of one of the
playing cards. She would light up the squares to show everyone what ways we could win, whether it was the letter X or full
card. She would also hang a sign to let us know if we could win anyway (up, down, diagonal). Before each game began she
would look over at Evan and me to make sure we understood. I would give her a thumbs up, she smiled and gave one back
to me. During the game, she would pick a ball and light that number on the main screen. I was kind of nervous in the
beginning, but it was really easy to follow along. Before leaving, Evan made his way back to talk to Peggy. After he spoke to
her, I thanked her again for being so nice to us and told her I will see her again.

ASL has opened my eyes to a whole different world. These classes have helped me grow as a person. It has opened my eyes
to deaf culture and community.

I feel like before taking this ASL class I’ve lived such a sheltered life. Seeing how a blind woman can communicate by using
her hands and touching things.
I definitely felt more confident going into my second event. I wasn’t nearly as nervous as I was for my first.