Tag Archives: Disability

Amanda Portrait, Day 15 – Down Syndrome and Bungee Jumping

Posted on March 28, 2017 by

When Amanda told me she wanted to put bungee jumping on her bucket list, I was all, “Yeah, okay. You have fun with that.” She added this to other things I would not partake in, like skydiving and riding in … Continue reading →

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Amanda Portrait Day 12 – Little Beluga

Posted on March 25, 2017 by

Those of us fortunate enough to know Amanda as she really is, without the Down Syndrome label, without talking over her or putting her in another room to watch cartoons with the kids (an ex-boyfriend’s sister actually did that once), … Continue reading →

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Amanda Portrait Day 10 – Watercolor

Posted on March 22, 2017 by

Amanda would appreciate this image, as it is probably her favorite stage that her hair was in — long and flowing. This is the longest her hair ever got. She was about seven years old here. We always thought it … Continue reading →

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Nevertheless, She Persisted

Posted on February 10, 2017 by

  I received a Valentine’s Day card today from my sister Amanda. Amanda has Down syndrome. She is 46 years old and, following the death of our Dad in 2013, she went to live with our older brother in Arizona. … Continue reading →

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Inauguration and Feathers of Down Syndrome

Posted on January 19, 2017 by

As Inauguration Day circles above us, riding the air currents like a predator, many have been dreading the last hours of our dear President Obama’s administration. His eloquence, grace and humor will certainly leave a tremendous void. But this inauguration … Continue reading →

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Dr. Phil Wants Amanda and Me On His Show

Posted on December 28, 2016 by

Dr. Phil called. Okay, it was actually Dr. Phil’s employee. On December 7th, I received an email from Kristi Hall, a producer for Dr. Phil. She was trying to call me to potentially arrange for Amanda and me to appear … Continue reading →

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Bullying

Posted on August 9, 2016 by

This blog post is worth a revisit: From January 21, 2015 Prior Lake Priorities – On Bullying I know everyone likes to see nice and sunny, funny stories about my sister Amanda, who despite (or maybe partially due to) having … Continue reading →

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Free State of (Disability) Jones

Posted on July 4, 2016 by

  It’s Independence Day, so I guess it is the ideal time to point out that all Americans are not free. The film Free State of Jones is a triumphant and tragic commentary on how far independence has come. Matthew … Continue reading →

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How My Sister Went from Illiterate at 21, to a Published Author

Posted on May 11, 2016 by

Amanda has long been a writer at heart.  Beginning from when she was about two, she used to climb the stairs and sit with me in my bedroom while I wrote page after page on spiral-bound note paper.  I wrote … Continue reading →

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The Red Carpet

Posted on February 22, 2015 by

I have to admit I am smitten with the whole giddy hubbub of Oscar night. The glitz, the glam, the jewelry, the shoes.  Bradley Cooper escorting his mother as his date.  The self-effacing humor of Jennifer Lawrence after she tripped … Continue reading →

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