Sadly trees can be a bit rare in this part of Texas. This is why we tend to be known for “wide open spaces” instead of “the land of trees.” So when I see trees I like….I tend to pay attention to them!
Over the past year I have stalked the same tree. I have taken pictures of it during its different stages. I hope you all enjoy them….
June 2014
January 2014
April 2014
May 2014
I have spent the past 28 years working and “teaching” people with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities. I currently teach adults that live in the community to manage their own finances and avoid exploitation. However, over the years I have taught everything from brushing teeth to operating difficult machinery. I like to think I have touched many lives and instilled a bit of independence in each person throughout the years. Often times when I am teaching “non-disabled” people about people with Intellectual disabilities I stress the fact that they are able to learn…the difference is it will likely happen a bit slower. For this reason it may take years to see significant progress. But progress will be made. I have always enjoyed looking back on where a person started and acknowledging how far they have travelled.
I think it is hard to know if we made a difference in another person’s life. The first group of guys I started working with in 1986 have all died now and sadly I had not seen many of them since I moved out of state 15 years ago. Did they ever think about the things we did together? Did they remember the hours upon hours we trained together so they could ride the city bus independently? I don’t know and sadly I will never know.
However, I do know one of the reasons I have stuck around for all these years is because they taught me. The people in my care taught me that unconditional love is possible. Those that enjoyed arguing with me, taught me to choose my battles. The people that moved at a pace slower than mine, taught me to put my hands behind my back and wait for them to complete a task in their time. The people that asked me every few minutes what we would have for dinner, taught me patience. They all gained my respect and they all taught me what it meant to deserve respect.
My entire professional life I have been in the role of teacher, mentor, and coach. But the role I have cherished the most has been that of student!
This post was inspired by The Daily Post – Weekly Writing Challenge/ Student, Teacher
This is my 2nd submission for the photo challenge “Spring.”
Chelsea is my 18 year old Pomeranian. Every year I take a picture of her in the bluebonnets. This picture was taken a week ago near Waco TX.
When I turned 10 years old, my grandparents were 60 years old.
When I graduated from High School my parents were 42 years old.
At 60, my grandparents seemed very old. Although they were active, my child’s brain imagined they were ancient.
At 42, my parents were certainly old. How could they not be old? They “came of age” in the 1950’s. The songs playing on the “oldies” radio stations were from that era.
As I became an adult, the 40’s, 50’s and 60’s still seemed beyond the age I could ever consider young.
Last week I turned 51. My brain still has not adjusted. I’m still trying to figure out what “old” is suppose to feel like. I do have aches and pains, but I also workout regularly, walk great distances and yesterday I climbed a tree.
My expectation of 51 was not this. I am honestly not sure what my expectation of being in my 50’s was. Maybe by now I was suppose to be planning for retirement. Maybe my evenings were suppose to be spent watching television and getting to bed by 9:00PM. Maybe I expected to spend my evenings reading a good book or watching the grandkids.
Instead of settling in for the beginning of the end, it seems I am starting a great adventure. I no longer have the expectation of being old. My expectation is that I will remain young, as long as I choose to remain young!
“letters” among letters
This tree can be found on top of a hill, overlooking Fort Worth Texas.
The tree was originally decorated for Christmas by a local homeless woman named Carla Christian. She wanted the homeless of Fort Worth to have a Christmas tree.
Carla died several years ago…..but someone continues to decorate the tree. Whoever has taken over the responsibility of decorating this little tree on the hill does so for many holidays throughout the year, not just Christmas. As you can tell by the photo it was recently decorated for Easter.
Dear Dream Reader….
You are my follower, my friend, maybe even my fan.
You are the person that I hope to impress.
You are the person that I hope to inspire.
You don’t have a name or a face. Like a chameleon you change to fit my mood and sometimes my ideas. You drop by and read my latest thought and take time from your busy day to offer me encouragement, a funny word and maybe a bit of direction.
I hope you read my words and find yourself impressed by my wit or amazed by my keen insight.
I hope you read my words and feel inspired to conquer your dreams or maybe even allow yourself to dream for the first time.
What I really want is your approval, your ideas and your support.
Dear Dream Reader…..I’m really not sure who you are but I do know as my page develops and my thoughts flow more freely onto the page, you will be there. You will be my follow, my friend and maybe even my fan!
Post inspired by The Daily Post, Blogging 101, Day Six Assignment: Write a post for your Dream Reader.
Conversations Around the Tree 