DEAR ABBY: May I suggest another way for "Worried Bride-to-Be" to look at her "disability"?
In the early 1900s, the New York Giants baseball team had a pitcher named Luther H. Taylor. He was a deaf mute who was, in an era of insensitivity, nicknamed "Dummy." Taylor lost a lot of games due to his inability to communicate with his teammates.
John McGraw, the manager of the Giants, was under enormous pressure from the team's owner, the fans and the sportswriters to trade Taylor. Instead, McGraw required the entire Giant team to learn American Sign Language. Once that was accomplished, McGraw used hand signals to lead his team. That's the origin of the hand signals that are used in baseball today.
Rather than be embarrassed about her disability, "Worried" should find a way to use her special abilities. -- STEPHEN REDMOND, M.D., MORGAN HILL, CALIF.
DEAR DR. REDMOND: Thank you for not only a fascinating tidbit of information, but also a healthy helping of food for thought. I love the way you look at life's challenges.