Christmas Ornaments Day 2
From now until Christmas I am going to post one picture a day of an ornament that means something to me and why. I hope it will get me back into the habit of writing again and I think it it’s a neat idea and some interesting things can come out. So spread the cheer.
This ornament is from Jaime. At the time he was one of the first residents at a new group home near my Church. I clicked with him and Mickey (another resident). In what I believe is a huge testament to how I raised both Jaime and Mickey were just my friends. Yes they were both profoundly disabled but when I looked at them that was not what I saw.
I credit this to my mom and my dad who started out his career as a teacher for the blind. As a side note I also have very clear memories of playing with a Braille book he had trying to teach myself how to read it. It did have both Braille and the written words underneath that. I didn’t really succeed though.
The first Christmas in the group home (Dec '89 if I remember correctly) I arranged with other close friends of the group home to do a gift swap with Jaime. I’m sure that couple played a big part in picking out this ornament and the gift that came with it but in my mind it will always be from Jaime.
This was a hard Christmas for me because it was the year I really understood that kids could get sick and not get better. While Jaime is in another home now for adults Mickey spent Christmas at the main center where she passed away a few months later. However, she gave me something as well my Confirmation name Michelle.
This ornament is from Jaime. At the time he was one of the first residents at a new group home near my Church. I clicked with him and Mickey (another resident). In what I believe is a huge testament to how I raised both Jaime and Mickey were just my friends. Yes they were both profoundly disabled but when I looked at them that was not what I saw.
I credit this to my mom and my dad who started out his career as a teacher for the blind. As a side note I also have very clear memories of playing with a Braille book he had trying to teach myself how to read it. It did have both Braille and the written words underneath that. I didn’t really succeed though.
The first Christmas in the group home (Dec '89 if I remember correctly) I arranged with other close friends of the group home to do a gift swap with Jaime. I’m sure that couple played a big part in picking out this ornament and the gift that came with it but in my mind it will always be from Jaime.
This was a hard Christmas for me because it was the year I really understood that kids could get sick and not get better. While Jaime is in another home now for adults Mickey spent Christmas at the main center where she passed away a few months later. However, she gave me something as well my Confirmation name Michelle.