GB Profile: Karen Putz/ @DeafMom

I'm a deaf mom to three deaf and hard of hearing kiddos. I long ago learned to stop trying to fit in, because somehow, I was born to stand out. Back when I was sixteen, I put my feet in the water at Christie Lake and took off barefooting. One summer day when I was nineteen, I turned to cross the wake, caught a toe and went cartwheeling on the water. In an instant, I went from hard of hearing to deaf.

Fast forward to March of this year-- I unwrapped my passion for barefoot water skiing again, thanks to 67-year-old Judy Myers and World Barefoot Champion, Keith St. Onge. The moment I placed my feet on the water-- I was hooked again.

Who says you can't teach an old dog new tricks? In three days at the World Barefoot Center, I learned how barefoot backwards on shoe skis. Next up-- learning it on bare feet. All I know is that at the age of 45, I'm having fun. I hang out with a bunch of 60+ year-old barefooters who look like 21-year-olds out on the water.

When I'm not on the water, I work as a Sales Manager for ZVRS.com, a videophone company. I write for the Chicago Tribune TribLocal and the Tribune blog, Chicago Now-- and I blog at www.deafmomworld.com.

Like I tell my kids, "Life is too short to pout all the time."

Why I Hang Around Old Ladies
Barefoot water skiing is considered an extreme sport, so it might come as a surprise to find 69-year-old Judy Myers skimming across the water in Winter Haven, Florida. In the boat, 63-year-old Joann O'Connor zips up her wetsuit and gets ready for her...
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Karen Putz/ @DeafMom
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Posted 9:54am December 13th, 2010

Hi Dena,

Wonderful to see the inclusion of deaf and hard of hearing teens in your projects! Miami Beach is beautiful-- I took my family there a few years ago and would love to go back again! Looking forward to getting to know you here on Growing Bolder!
Dena Stewart
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Posted 9:47am December 13th, 2010

You are inspiring. We include deaf and hard of hearing teenagers in most of our projects, Most recently, Bullying and Abuse in dating relationships. We have a signer working with us. A close friend is the liaison with the school board and the deaf student population.

Would love to know you better. We are in Miami Beach.
Dena Stewart