Libraries! An Exciting Place To Be!

 
So many great things happen at our library! Wednesday afternoon four authors from Bethany House who write historical and contemporary romances had a book signing. I was especially interested in meeting Kim Vogel Sawyer, because she wrote, "Dear John", a story about a young man with Down Syndrome (who goes to her church.) She and I have e-mailed each other about our books, so I was particularly happy to meet her. In "Dear John," the heroine becomes the caregiver of her brother, John, after her parents' death. She agonizes about whether to keep him at home, or let him go out in the world, where cruel people could hurt him, to get a job. It was a great book, and I was delighted to have her sign it...."Sybil~~" she wrote,"He has great plans!" I just pray that I am aware of all the nudges the Lord gives me, so that "Journey With Jeff" can get out to all the people who need to know they are not alone as caregivers!!!

Conditional Love and Encouragement?

 
"You look so familiar!" I said to a woman at our Senior Center; "What's your name?" She told me, and we studied each other for a moment before we both said the other's name at the same time! Big hug! I hadn't seen her for many years, but I remember something I don't think she remembers. 25 -- 30 years ago when we often met for lunch I'd talk about my intense dream of writing Jeff's story for publication. After a while, when this work didn't fall into place, and I STILL longed for it, she impatiently said, "Sybil, I don't want to hear from you again until you've written that book!!!" ~~~ I believe she was challenging me to "Just DO it!"~~~ she believed this goading would motivate me to get it done!!~~~ Catching up a little with each other's lives today, I mentioned that I have written "Journey With Jeff." She responded lightly, "I knew you would."~~~ Maya Angelou has said, "I have learned that people will forget what you said; people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made then feel." I pray I will never bury a relationship with treatening words of conditional love.

The Intensity of Raising Jeff and Jennifer

 
I remember reading a book by Annie Dillard about living a life so deeply consecrated that it would be like a moth attracted to a candle. The moth would be so intense about the flame that he would actually fly into it and be consumed. ~~~ As I remember, Annie Dillard wrote that we needed to be so intense about our mission in life that we could be consumed with it. At that point in my life, I was bringing up a son with Down Syndrome and a daughter with high grades in school. Life was intense!! I was trying to learn all I could to help my son develop and become all God had made him to be, as well as our daughter. I saw myself consumed with this challenge!!! And, it felt good to have such a purpose!!~~~ I was also trying to gather all the notes I had written since Jeff was six years old (1967) when I began listing all the things this child COULD do. 30 - no, 40 years later "Journey With Jeff" was ready for the world! Publishers said, "This is lovely, but we can't use it," so I read the 155 stories onto 5 CDs. These also are available, for enjoyment as you drive. Send an e-mail to rsreisch@frontiernet.net. (Photo is Jeff helping his Jennifer learn to walk.)

The New "R" Word

In spite of the media spin saying the new movie, "Tropic Thunder" is a movie-within-a-movie making fun of self-absorbed actors, it begins with "Once upon a time there was a retard..." The actor who has played, "Simple Jack - a dim-witted farmer" in a movie is criticized by another action hero for playing him with every typical understanding (misunderstanding) of people with developmental disabilities. "You never go full retard!" he shouts. The National Down Syndrome Congress is concerned that this new movie will result in bullying of children with special needs. One of the most unfortunate consequences of the movies is the distribution of merchandise displaying offensive lines like, "Never go full retarded" on clothing and other items. Tim Shriver, chairman of the Special Olympics said, "I'd like people not to see it. I'd like kids with special needs going back to school in the fall to not have to deal with other kids saying, "Are you a full retard?" Those who use the label to describe someone do not know the power of their words, or the level of their own ignorance. ~~~It's all about Respect -- an "R" word I can live with.

RECOGNIZED!!

 
There was a woman standing at the library desk when I went to check out a book, and her face was wreathed in smiles. I greeted her with a "Hi!" and a smile, but had no idea who she was. She kept on smiling and looking at me. "Are you the author of that book?" she asked. "You mean Journey With Jeff? Yes, I am." She continued, "I thought so. My friend has an eleven-year-old son with Down Syndrome and she loaned it to me. I really enjoyed it!" When I asked her her name, I learned she lived about 25 miles away, and drove a school bus for that district. She said she had applied to drive a bus for Lifetime Assistance, Inc., but the schedules didn't mesh. ~~~ A school bus driver!! Now, there's a person I admire! (Photo of "Journey With Jeff" on CDs - first, before the book - in the local library.)

Return to Camp Joy

 
Carnival Night began the week-long evening festivities at Camp Joy on Monday. I helped encourage campers to try their hand at tossing "food" into net pockets to feed the animals on Noah's ark, cheering their efforts. Enjoyed talking to many of the staff I was part of for many years. Joan Van de Wall, Camp Joy Director, has purchased quite a few copies of "Journey With Jeff" from me, and given a number out to her staff. What a joy when some brought the book to me to be autographed! Leaving five more books there, I am so glad to be able to encourage these caregivers with "Journey," and, to say thank you! This is Camp Joy's 27th year, and Jeff was involved for 7 years before the Lord called him Home. The above photo was taken his last summer there. He considered the woman kneeling beside his wheelchair his true love for a very long time. Diane had been on the staff, and the Wednesday night SEEDS program, since the beginning. Last night Howie, the Camp Joy guy who used to pretend he was going to capture Diane, said, "My fondest memory is Jeff in his helmet and his Superman cape ready to protect her from me."

Travel Challenges with Kids with Special Needs

 
There were three young adults with special needs that I noticed in the airport on my way to and from Tulsa, OK, in July. Two were sitting quietly on the floor, or in a special chair. The young man on my flight was sitting with his mom, grandma, and two siblings in front of the huge tarmac window. "No!" he'd shout out now and again. Every so often his mom would say, "You need to stop that," and he did for a while. "I'm sorry you don't feel well," she said -- he refused any food she offered him. His family appeared to ignore him most of the time. When we boarded the plane, he and his mom sat across the isle from us. He continued to moan, and make nervous noises and gestures. One of the teenagers in front of me made a remark that prompted his seat-mate to say, "Stop it!" After the plane finally took off, he leaned his head on his mother's shoulder and arm, and went to sleep until we were back on the ground. When we were waiting to deplane, I said to him, "You did a good job!" and he grinned. "Yes, didn't he!" said his mom, "Thank you!" ~~~This experience reminded me of the time 12-year-old Jeff and his sister, Jennifer (7) and I flew to Colorado to visit a friend. Jeff was very nervous, and was nauseous when we landed. Jen made no indication she was having a hard time, too. Being the sibling of someone with special needs carries a special challenge of its own. (Photo of Reisch family visiting)