High-frequency hearing loss, ie from age or in my case from being allergic to aspirin, wipes out the consonants of speech but not the vowels. So unless you get hearing aids you can hear someone talking but the words themselves are not clear.

I finally opened a box that came Saturday. One expected thing, one unexpected thing.

I pulled the latter out and looked at it, puzzled. I had no idea what this thing was supposed to be and its packaging didn’t say as far as I could tell.

I handed it to him, asking.

It’s a ah eh i uh.

Me, using my best lipreading skills: It’s a camel biter?

Him: A candle lighter. (Electric, he added afterwards.)

Me, wondering how on earth this thing is supposed to match that description: A candle lighter? Do we need this?

Him, grinning and knowing the answer was going to sound silly: Yes.

The camels will be relieved to hear that.