All Fired UP--a rant.

Ann Coulter has shown herself to be the pathetic, heartless, insecure bully she is by once again attacking one of the most vulnerable groups of people of society while 'supporting' her choice of President.

For those of you who don't know who Ann Coulter is, google her. I will not waste one second of my time explaining it.  I will, however spend many, many, many seconds of my time explaining why I hate the word 'Retard', especially when it is used to attempt to embarass or denigrate someone.

I am the lucky mom to an incredible kid who is not retarded.  I don't even know what that word means.  I know what it has come to mean in society; someone with intellectual disabilities, physical disabilities, cognitive impairments, learning disabilities.  Someone who is processes words and concepts slower than most.  Any person who makes a 'normal' person (of poor character) feel uncomfortable.

My son has Cerebral Palsy, is a wheelchair user, non-verbal, has to fight with his body every minute of every day to try to do the simplest tasks.  He is also the bravest person I know.  He overcomes more in a day than we do in a year, and still loves life.  Some people might look at him, his posture, his drool, his sounds, and his inability to do things like others and think he is 'retarded'.  I ask those people to specify which of those qualities make him 'retarded'.  My answer: none.  not one.

People who use the word 'retard' or 'retarded' are saying that when someone acts stupid, silly, incorrectly, or embarasses themselves, they are acting the same as people with intellectual/physical/cognitive impairments.  I am assuming this is what they mean, from the context they use it.  When I call people out for using that word, they have said to me "I don't mean it like THAT" or 'I don't mean Drew or his friends'.  What, exactly do you mean then?  The English language is filled with amazing adjectives--pick another word.

Don't pick on the easy targets.  The people in our society that need the most assistance.  The people who, through no fault of their own, have additional burdens that none of us could even handle.  We couldn't function in their life for a day, much less a lifetime of discrimination, cruelty, challenges and obstacles.  Certainly not come out smiling and loving life.

I know a lot of amazing people that ignorant, little people in our society consider 'retarded'.  These people are the most loving, hardest working, sweetest, thoughtful people.  They are cheerleaders for everyone they know.  Like when they ask how Drew, Chris and Harley are, every time I see them.  Like when they tell a new member to the crew (I am a job coach) 'Don't be nervous--we will help you'.  Like when they assist eachother with whatever jobs they have, treat eachother like family. How they tell me all the time 'I love my job!' and mean it.
Like this morning, when a crew member said 'I know what your favorite pop is!' making me feel important.  It's the little things in life that they are so much better at than we so-called 'normal' people.

I can't picture any of these people I know tweeting 'I highly approve of Romney’s decision to be kind and gentle to the retard'.  Cuz they have love and acceptance in their hearts, not fear of imperfection that takes on the form of bullying and cowardice.

She is an across-the-board bigot and racist. She brazenly keeps using the R-word, not caring that it hurts those who have disabilities and those of us that are proud to know them.

We need to stop listening to her, buying her books, and indulging in her stupidity. 

End of Rant.  :)

Wagon Wheels, Rain and Pumpkin guts

We went up north this past weekend to attend the Wertz Warriors fundraiser at the Wagon Wheel in Westbranch.   It is a cool place--great atmosphere, great service, and a for a great cause.  Wertz Warriors raises money for the MI Special Olympics.  Even tho there are only 2 events that physically impaired kids can attend at the SO, Boogie wormed his way into their hearts and is the unofficial 'mascot' for the Alger/Westbranch/Standish Wertz Warriors.
Anyway, we attended the Wagon Wheel of Westbranch fundraiser on Saturday.  These people raise money for Special Olypians, cuz it's the right thing to do.  Some of them have incredible ppl in their family; some don't.  Some just want to make a difference.  They do.  They really, really, do.

So, it rained all day both Saturday and Sunday.  Poured, is more like it.  No worries...we figured out a way to keep Drew as dry as possible, getting him in and out of the truck.  He is such a trooper and a great fan.  I hope the rain turns to snow this winter so we can go snow-mobiling!

Pumpkin guts brings me to tell the story of the first Pumpkin  Harley has seen.  We bought it not to carve (Drew is soooooooooooo over that) but I wanted to slow-roast the seeds on the top of the wood-burning stove.  It tooks 5 hours to get them right!  But they were killer.

So, we give Harley the Pumpkin.  He acts like it is CRACK ROCK.  He loved it so much, he grabbed the 18+ LB Pumpkin in his mouth and played keep-a way from dad.  He looked like a Pitbull, relentless and focused!

When he finally broke into the pumpkin, he devoured the stringy insides.   ick.  It was crazy, watching him dig his teeth into the Pumpkin and systematically tear it up, was so funny.  He was obsessed!

Fall is upon us...it is chilly, rainy, and smells like snow.  Jim and the boys are rocking football out!  Connor is QB for Mott JV.  Brendan plays for Eastside Eagles.  Jim coaches for the E.E.

Connor is undefeated so far this season, and is a bad Mo-Fo.  B and G's teams are great too.  We are so blessed to have our family.  All of our kids and Aunts/Uncles accept and love Drew, include him, and genuinely know him.  That is priceless to me and Chris.

Thanksgiving is almost here...It is my favorite holiday.  I love the chaos, noise, food, fellowship, chatter, mess, and intimacy that is Thanksgiving in my family.

If anyone out there has no where else to go, you are welcome here.  The more the merrier!  I want to celebrate every day for the gift that it is.

Love you, blog friends! 

Crestor is funny?!

Drew never ceases to amaze me.  I wish I could know what is going on in his incredible little head.  I wish I could see what his mind's eye sees.  I wish I could could talk to and with him.

His laugh lights up our world.  It is infectious, contagious, and pure joy.  Like, when the grandpa of a client at his therapy clinic bent over to pick up his grand-daughter's backpack and his toupee flopped forward.  BELLY LAUGH. 
Like when the lady in the airport tripped and fell--and it turns out, she was a NUN-- BELLY LAUGH.
Like when anyone trips, falls, uses sarcasm, rolls their eyes, or when his classmates sneak off of the carpet or do something they shouldn't.  BELLY LAUGH.

I want to be in his head and see what is so dang funny about the Crestor commercial!  He belly laughs every time he sees it!  How is high cholesterol funny?  I don't get it.  He kills me.  That is by far, his favorite commercial right now.

He also loves the Capital One commercial, where the sassy little girl gives Jimmy Fallon a hard time.  I can see how he thinks that is funny; irreverance kills him.  But high cholesterol?  HMMMMM.

We lost our favorite Aunt Bert this week.  I don't doubt she and Uncle Bill and Drew's grandma and Papa are blessing us from above, and getting a kick out of every thing this kid does.  He is in good company with his Angels.

We will keep on guessing, I guess.  :)