There are too many labels in the world today. Children, especially, are branded with stigmatic names that follow them all their lives. They are not expected to achieve because they are this, o、 r they are that. According to the experts, they need various types of therapy, medication, o、 r other special treatment.

Sometimes the experts are full of crap. Supposed non-achievers o、r underachievers go on to do great things, sometimes far beyond what a normal person is capable of achieving. Einstein had problems opening a door, was lacking math talents in his early school years, and was withdrawn and moody. I believe he proved himself to be more than capable.

Patrick Notley is autistic. He put together the slide show, the link which I have at the top of this post. The music is by Claude Debussy. It is Lamer, the moods of the sea throughout the day. Great piece. I couldn't put this fantastic slide show together, but Patrick did. So is Patrick autistic o r is he perhaps skilled in things that "normal" people can't understand? You decide.

My oldest granddaughter is labeled autistic, as is my three year old daughter. Do I worry about their futures? I worry about all my childrens' futures. Raven and Riona will do just fine. Maybe they'll need a little something extra to cope with so-called normality, but they are loving children.

I used to worry that maybe I was partly to "fault" for the autism. and then it hit me: what difference did it make if something in my genetic background had something to do with it? If truth be told, I had problems early on in school and didn't walk until I was well over two years old. From the fourth grade on, I received nothing less than A's, mostly A+'s, and I graduated first in my class in high school. When I went to college, nothing less than 4.0's. What's the point? I have a terrible stutter and truly have to work hard to grasp certain concepts, but I don't quit, and I do it. Do I have a label? My guess is that as a child, had we had in place the labeling genius thing going on that we do now, I would have been labeled autistic. I view things in a sort of four-dimensional manner. Crap, I thought everyone did. Guess I was wrong. However, I have enhanced senses and love to grasp complexities hidden within things. Maybe that's what my daughter does. 

Yvonne, Stacey, and I love children and realize it is far more important to treat every child, every person, as someone special, deserving of recognition. After all, the "labeled" person might just turn out to be your employer some day. You never know.

Check out the slide show: it is a treat for the senses.


Blaze