Your Basic Warm Fuzzy

[slyc_willie]

At the restaurant, I have numerous regulars, "call parties," we call them. Typically, I get one or two such call parties on any given shift.

One such is a young woman by the name of Becky, who suffers from spina bifida and is confined to a wheelchair. She and her mother, Lidia, are both very religious and head up a charity in Becky's name.

It's always a joy when they come in. For whatever reasons, Becky lights up and grins when she sees me. Today was no exception. She came zooming toward me in her wheelchair, holding aloft what appeared to be a newspaper clipping sealed in plastic, portraying the image of President Bush leaning over and hugging a woman in a wheelchair.

That woman, of course, was Becky Oprean. She was awarded the Volunteer Lifetime Achievement Award.

Check it out HERE.

(ETA: the description beneath the phot has the names backward. Lidia is the mom )

Yeah. Serious warm fuzzies.

Happy Holidays, Merry Christmas, Happy Channukah or Rammadan or whatever else you prefer.

 

[voluptuary_manque]

Just the ticket for the Season! Warm fuzzies, indeed.

 

[slyc_willie]

Just the ticket for the Season! Warm fuzzies, indeed.

I just wanted to offer a break from all the bitching and whining that normally goes on this time of year.

 

[DesertPirate]

Very cool, thanks for the warm fuzzies

 

[TE999]

Aww..bless her heart...amd her mama too.

Courage like hers in the face of adversity and handicaps sends a powerful message...even more poignant during a holiday season...and makes one appreciate what one has at this ending of another year.

 

[slyc_willie]

Aww..bless her heart...amd her mama too.

Courage like hers in the face of adversity and handicaps sends a powerful message...even more poignant during a holiday season...and makes one appreciate what one has at this ending of another year.

Over the last year or so since I've known Becky, I've come to appreciate my life in different ways. Whatever my chronic disabilities, whatever the tragedies and losses I've suffered, when I stand next to a woman who can't live without constant medication and has to use a wheelchair just to get around, I feel a lot less bad for myself.

At the same time, the way she's turned a serious disability into a beacon of hope is more than a little humbling and inspiring. She's a true gem.

 

[slyc_willie]

Another . . . .

Last night was the little one's dance recital. The SO and I were skeptical about whatever progress might be made with our decidedly agility-challenged little girl. Aside from being only two and a half years old, she has apparently inherited her mother's grace.

One thing we have learned, however, is that the little one is a ham. She sees a camera, and it's "go" time. Little surprise, then, once all the members of her class were assembled at the front of the cafeteria and the music began, that baby girl began to shine. She did all the moves and performed with aplomb. Oh, did I mention that she's in the advanced class for her age group?

Anyway, after the number, she of course came to sit with us. Full of energy, jumping up and down, and also full of affection. The little one was obviously glad mommy and daddy were there, because she kept hugging us both.

Then one of her fellow classmates began crying. Apparently, she didn't do as well.

Like it was the most natural thing to do, our baby girl went to the other little one and hugged her. Moments later, they were both laughing and jumping up and down. Crisis averted.

 

[jomar]

Very cool on the Oprens.

Also about your daughter. That brought back memories that made me smile.

 

[Guest]

I liked both stories... thanks for posting them

 

[slyc_willie]

Very cool on the Oprens.

Also about your daughter. That brought back memories that made me smile.

I liked both stories... thanks for posting them

Thanks. I've never had so many reasons to be happy and content in my life as I do now.

 

[DesertPirate]

Thanks. I've never had so many reasons to be happy and content in my life as I do now.

This is a good thing
Hope this is just the start, with many wonderful Christmas memories to come

 

[voluptuary_manque]

If baby is like Mama, you won big!

 

[slyc_willie]

This is a good thing
Hope this is just the start, with many wonderful Christmas memories to come

While not taking anything for granted, I think I can say fairly that this is indeed the beginning of many good holidays to come.

If baby is like Mama, you won big!

Oh, she's a little terror right now, and I've learned that I do, indeed, have a definite "daddy voice." But those sweet, innocent, pure-as-snow moments of affection outweigh everything.

Especially when she says, "Love you, Daddy."

Gets me every time.

Just goes to show . . . when you think you've given up, you get what you've always wanted.