Were you talented when you were 12?  I’m quite sure I had some talents, and at 12 I probably thought I was the best at what I did.  I tried to think back to what talents I had at 12, and I landed myself back in middle school.  I played the violin and viola for our school orchestra.  I had started playing the violin in 4th grade, and when I was 12, I switched to the viola, because our orchestra needed more players in that section.  I loved the viola, the deep beautiful sounds that came from it.  And when I had learned over the summer and then got first chair when school started up again, I was elated.  There were three of us, and *I* got first chair.  But looking back, my talents were quite minimal.  I only probably got first chair because the other two people in our section didn’t give it their all.  We were all good enough to have it.  Tonight, I was reading at www.ksl.com and I wish that I had an ounce of the talent that this young lady has.  If you have a minute, check out the gallery of photos.  12. FREAKING. YEARS. OLD.  Do you know where I could be now if 1) I had that much talent and applied to to my viola playing and 2) had the opportunity to stick with playing the viola (we moved, and the school I attended only had a band, so no more orchestra, and I had been using the school’s viola *cry*).  I’m sure had I applied myself, I could have done better.  But this girl is astounding to me.  Just…WOW!  The way she captures things in her paintings.  It is quite captivating and left me in awe.  I just wanted to share it with those of you who might read it! 

In other news, I got a new bike!  Well, new to me.  A lady down the street from my mom’s house was selling it at her yard sale a few weeks ago, so I stole the opportunity to get it while she was still setting her yard sale up!  It is in great condition as far as I can tell, and she just put new tires on it, the type that aren’t supposed to go flat.  And, best of all?  IT’S PURPLE!  LOL I love purple 🙂  So now I just need to get a helmet and I’m good to go.  Oh, and an odometer so I can tell how many miles I’m going 🙂  That’s called an odometer, right?  If I’m wrong, just nod and smile and pretend that I’m right, just to let me feel smart 🙂

Have a great weekend!!!

Thinking of others

I had a friend that has a little girl with autism.  When Lexi was a baby, she was adorable (and as a little girl, she still is!!!).  They learned something wasn’t quite as it should be early on, before the age a diagnosis could be made sure, but they wanted to wait to diagnose her, just to make sure they gave the correct diagnosis.  As far as I know, she’s got a moderate to severe diagnosis (is that what it’s called? I don’t know much about it!).  It took her a long time to form words, but she is able to form them, and if you’re lucky, she’ll share them with you.  She doesn’t really walk (or didn’t when I saw her) but sort of bounces on her toes.  And she screamed.  A lot.  And couldn’t calm down without some intense workouts between her and her mother who was trying to comfort her.  We’ve all grown a lot from learning about Lexi, and I really miss her and her family, but we have since parted ways and don’t talk anymore 😦  I remember being at their house once, and we were all getting ready to go shopping.  I grabbed Lexi’s shoes and helped her put them on, not knowing that she never let anyone touch her, let alone someone she doesn’t know very well.  I put the shoes on, with no problem.  Her mom and grandmother just stood there looking at us like we’d just walked on water and I said WHAT?!?!  I thought I’d done something wrong.  That’s when they told me they were shocked that she let me put her shoes on.  And that she would call me by name.  Because she just didn’t do that.  She is one special little girl, and I am touched that she made me feel special. 

I remember Shawn, a boy in my middle school.  He was autistic.  He wouldn’t talk to you.  He would hum, if I remember correctly.  And he wasn’t all that keen on meeting new people.  Our health class got the privelege of going into Shawns class and working with him and his classmates.  Our school was just starting to mainstream with the disabled kids and it was one of the best experiences I think I could ever have had.  We were told that there were some children we needed to be careful with because of violent tendencies, delicate situations, etc.  And that Shawn was shy and had a hard time meeting new people.  Shawn and I were able to connect and he, too, made me feel like I was the special person. 

I share these things not because I want anyone to think I’m some awesome person, or anything like that.  I share it because there are these special souls out there, some of which need our help.  Stop by Mim’s page and follow the link to help her sister out.  Her sister has some great things to offer and could really use your help!  As Mim said, if you can’t help, can you help spread the word? 

Thanks!  I hope you all have a great day!!