One Foot In Front of the Other

Today on CNN, a new app for i-pad was discussed because it provided the gift of speech for those who suffer from autism.  AutisMate was used by an 18 year old young man who had never spoken, but was now able to communicate through this new app.  His joy over being understood, and his happiness at being able to be part of the world at last was heart warming and heart breaking all at the same time. I saw familiar mannerisms; the child-like joy of a man who will likely always be a child, but who will now be able to be more independents.  My heart swells with happiness whenever I see these kinds of stories.  Parents are happy beyond words when they can finally communicate with a child who has never spoken a word. Lacy was not mute, but he did not connect with others the way one would think of connection.  That is why whenever he allows it, I hug and kiss him.  I hold his hand and look at his fingers.  I sit next to him and feel the comfortable companionship.  The connections used to la

Kenny and I went to see Aaron Neville perform at Walton Arts Center in Fayetteville on Saturday night.  What a show!  What a voice!  There has never been and will never be anyone else like him. One of the first songs he sang was "Don't Know Much:" He and Linda Ronstadt sang that song as a duet many years ago.  That was the first time I'd really listened to Neville sing, though Kenny and I had seen Ronstadt in concert.  That duet was beautiful. Aaron Neville sang it as a tribute to Linda Ronstadt who has lost the ability to sing due to symptoms of Parkinson's Disease. The Voice.   THAT VOICE . "Blue Bayou," "You're No Good," "Different Drum."  Such an easy voice to listen to.  Parkinson's silenced Ronstadt's voice before anyone was ready to stop listening.    All because, one day, neurons in her brain began to go haywire. Lou Gehrig was silenced but not before he expressed his belief that he was "the luckiest m