I recently joined Legal Shield world in August, 2020. Since we all were restricted to stay home during this pandemic, I joined so many zoom meetings, and jotting down information from the Deaf leaders. There was so much rich information that helps me to grow as a person and learning about the services that it was providing to the people.

On Feb 3, 2021, I became curious what it look like on the another side, the hearing world. What does their presentation look like and do they do similar system to what I’ve been learning with the Deaf leaders. The calendar that they’ve build within Legal Shield were filled with meetings and I decided to browse through to see what works for my schedule. That the part I like the most, I choose my own hours. I mean, who doesn’t! So I saw Mel Roberson’s and it works with my schedule so I jot the time in my planner. I reserve my spot and all I had to do was to show up.

At 9pm Eastern time zone, I pulled my phone next to the computer that I was using and made the volume go high enough that my phone was able to caption live. I sat back and watch the whole presentation. At the end of his presentation, he goes “My name is Mel Roberson. We got about 30 minutes until Chicago PD  I was on. I don’t know. I can’t tell you what’s about to happen. You got it tuned in.” and my jaw literally dropped. I’m like… wait, YOUR a actor. NOOOO WAY!!! While he was chatting but my phone was still captioning so I could read later, I pulled up a website to quickly fact-check and sure enough, he was in it. I went back to zoom and my eyes just wide open. I couldn’t believe I was watching a guy who is a actor IN the part of Legal Shield. Wait, Whaaattttt?! I was in complete disbelief. I couldn’t watch Chicago Police at the time because I had no cable. The cable was cut off for 10 years or something at that point. I told myself, someday, I’m going to watch that show. Somehow. ((Note – I have the transcript of this very presentation that I actually printed it out and kept. ))

A month or two later, I follow his business page and I saw he was live-streaming through Facebook. That perk my curiosity so I hopped on. I was actually disappointed with Facebook for not providing closed caption and I realized it was them just chatting. I decided to hop off. Days after that, I couldn’t seem to ignore the urge to watch and I thought that was very weird feeling to have. A month later, I believe, he came back on live-streaming with his people and this time I decided to listen to my urge and just watch. I pulled up my phone app so it can do live-captioning. They were talking about being single and they were engaging with the audience. They asked us if we have any questions, we could ask. I was thinking, how often do they come across to a Deaf person. I go Eh, lets give it a shot. I asked the question if they would date with a Deaf woman. Someone in the chat was uhh, .. all I can say was rude. I was SO upset and I didn’t want to make Mel and his people to look bad so I left to respect their space. If those men have answered my question, still to this day, I have no idea and that is fine. But it is out there. The ” Deaf ” has been expose and that was my goal to raise awareness that there are Deaf people out there. It is not something to go HaHa about.

That night, I received a private message from one of the men apologizing, and I was honestly floored. The next day, I got another message, and this time it was from Mel. I had to stare at it, thinking, ‘Is he really talking to me?! Is this really happening?’ Once again, I was floored by his message. He, too, apologized. They told me that this person had been banned. In that moment, I felt they were my ally.

You have NO idea how much that means to me… well, maybe but as a Deaf person who has been push aside, made fun of, treat as a trash but that small action of saying, ” No, your behavior is wrong” may be very small but it means huge.

I don’t know celebrity in general, I admit. I’ve always vision celebrity are snob and I guess that what society’s influence my thinking. But in that instant when I felt I had an ally, that celebrity snob thoughts has been destroyed. I am eternally thankful that I had that moment with a celebrity to allow me to say, “No, that is not true.” After having that conversation with Mel, I had to think back to Jonathan Taylor Thomas who have repeatedly said in his interviews, he is just a person who just happen to be famous. I had to really sit down and remembering his words and Mel’s action. It really have changed my thinking how I view things even more.

In April, 2022, I was newly divorce and homeless. Legal Shield was celebrating 50th year anniversary in the state of Oklahoma. I had lived in Oklahoma near Tulsa area years earlier, and it have held a special place in my heart. 50 years celebration and it is at OKC, Oklahoma, You bet I’m going! I made plan with my good friend, A-Team that we would fly out to that amazing event.

On my traveling day, I flew out from Massachusetts to Oklahoma so while in flight, my hearing aids battery decided to act up. I recently changed the battery a week prior so I was shocked to hear the beeping noise notifying me that it was dying. Once landed, we dropped our bags at the hotel then ran to get ourselves registered then dive into meetings that was taken place that morning. During quick breaks, Will Fairy and I quickly discussed during the long break, we would get together to grab lunch and hunt down hearing aids battery so I don’t have to listen to the beeping anymore.

During the long break in between morning meeting and the afternoon meeting, Will Fairy and I stood outside waiting for our ride and had a interesting moment that would be share in another post eventually. We hopped into Uber and I shared the story with Will Fairy who couldn’t stop laughing after that. We grabbed the battery I needed. We quickly walked over to Mexican culture restaurant who was just about to closed for the day but kept open for us. I cannot ask for a better service and the food was delicious.

During my conversation with Will Fairy, Mel topic came up somehow and I share my special ally moment story. I told her that I wanted to say my thanks in person. Will Fairy’s jaw was honestly dropped because she couldn’t believe I didn’t share this story during in our many zooms meetings. I told her, I have no idea why I kept that story to myself but I did. She share her respect for Mel and told me that I am meeting him after afternoon meeting. We rushed back to our afternoon meeting because hunting for the battery in unfamiliar space actually took up a lot of our time so we were bit of a rush.

Afternoon meeting was done. Will Fairy tap my shoulder and say, ” lets go! ” and walked away. I’m like, “Wait, now?” in my head and I had no choice but to follow. My legs were shaking and my thinking was full of “Am I really doing this? Oh gawd, I see him, we’re actually doing this!” That was reeling in my head. During my walk over, I saw this woman standing by Mel’s DJing spot and my instant thought of her that she was beautiful. I had no idea who she was but I could see that Mel knew her. I looked away to watch Will Fairy’s back walking like in determination that we’re getting this done. I looked at the floor so I’m not bumping into anything and my mind was reeling. I was also trying to tell my legs to stop shaking. I was definitely nervous but it was something I felt needed to happen.

Will Fairy had a quick moment of hellos with Mel and then looked at me, signaling that I had something to say. She gave me a “Go. Do it.” gesture. Initially, I hadn’t planned to speak, but I was shaking inside. I knew that if I used American Sign Language (ASL), my signs would reveal my nervousness. I also realized that Mel might not understand if I signed, but I knew Will Fairy would interpret if needed. So, I immediately set aside the idea of signing and looked at Mel.

In that moment, my heart and mind aligned. I wanted him to hear my gratitude directly from me, from the heart. First, I asked if he remembered the situation that had come up, and he vaguely did. I struggled to find the words because I was feeling so much. Ultimately, I expressed my thanks.

He asked me if he could hug me and I … that share moment I had with him is not something I can explain into word. All I knew in that instant, he was a gem. A rare one. He found a way to come down from high space and embrace me into his open arms. I felt the hug was sincere and with respect.

Thank you Mel.

I went home after that trip and I held that moment close to my heart. Thank you Will Fairy for pushing me forward. This is something I will now forever cherished.

A year later, Charlotte NC in April, 2023, I made a goal in January during Burning Bowl experience that I wanted Mel and his soul-best friend, Monique who I grew to love through posts on Facebook. I wanted both of them to be people to present the ring when I successfully reach $50,000 commission goal. So with determination I have in my mind, I was ready to ask the question but finding the time to do it is when?

I was roommates with a few Deaf ladies and one hearing person. Throughout the trip, this hearing person turned our hearty laughter into frowns and frustrated faces. I was the youngest one among them, and this woman seemed to enjoy talking to me.

Then came that special night when Mel and his amazing friend hosted an event that was not related to the convention—a space where people gathered to share their deepest moments in a public setting. It was a space that needed to be held with respect and love, free from judgment. I felt it was important to honor that sacred space where they welcomed me to sit and listen. I had experienced something similar back in OKC when I went to support Mel. The things shared there earned my utmost respect, and I wanted those Deaf ladies and this hearing person to have that experience as well.

However, this hearing person pressed certain buttons, and I had to step out of the event for a bit to collect myself, but I couldn’t. I bawled privately. I simply couldn’t believe this hearing person had the nerve to disrupt the respectful space that I had come to love. It didn’t belong to me; it was theirs. I felt it was my role to listen quietly.

I sensed her white privilege strongly as she barged into the space, demanding things to be provided. I swallowed my pride and stood up to her, saying no. In that moment, I realized that if a hearing person entered a Deaf space and acted like that, I wouldn’t like it one bit. Her blatant display of white privilege was a jarring wake-up call for me.

Thankfully, that woman left, but I was feeling a whirlwind of emotions after days of being together, all crashing into one overwhelming moment. That flood of feelings is why I cried. I knew right then that she wasn’t someone I wanted to spend time with after going home. After taking a moment to myself, I was able to calm down enough to walk back to the table where the Deaf ladies were sitting. They instantly became concerned for my well-being, and I reassured them that I was okay.

The event started. The poems. The songs. And the moments that was shared from the community will forever remain close to our hearts because after that night, the Deaf ladies talks about it dayssss after. It was buzzing. I just had to sit back and let them take it in because they’re saying all the things I was saying and feeling a year prior. I was being thank over and over for welcoming them witnessing that beautiful event. Even a year later, they still go “Hey, remember that poetry night …. ”

The event took longer and we needed to sleep so before heading back to our place for the night, I wanted to grab my special moment with the beautiful couple, Mo and Mel before the next day. That is when everyone starts to fly home. I remember being shaking because I had a break-down moment just hours earlier and my courage to ask was building up to that point. It was out of my comfort zone but I knew it was something I need. I needed that goal. I want SO badly wanted to be them. They have became special people to my heart that I grew to love and adore. Without their knowledge, their posts on Facebook is something I look forward to because they both are r e a l. It can’t be said anything better than that. They are r e a l. I asked them to be the people to present the rings and both said yes. In that instant, all the bad days I was experiencing with this woman was gone. Instantly. That special moment with the Robersons became my another favorite.

Thank you Mo and Mel.

We met again in Oklahoma City, April 2024. You came up to me like you were sneaking behind my back and close my eyes and say BOO. That how it felt in that moment which is pretty funny because it was day-light at Legal Shield headquarter. I could have seen you coming and I totally didn’t. I was surprise. I must have been totally into the conversation with someone who had my full focus. That hug, Mel. I can’t say enough about that hug of yours. Thank you.

Thank you for teaching me from afar. Thank you for being my ally. I hope I can be one of yours as well. I see you. You are one rare gem gentlemen. I hope I get to meet someone like you.

Happiest Happy Birthday, Mel.

MO! Don’t forget to hug him for me! ❤ I love you both!

With love,