Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!usc!apple!olivea!oliveb!bunker!hcap!hnews!Earl.Appleby From: Earl.Appleby@hnews.fidonet.org (Earl Appleby) Newsgroups: misc.handicap Subject: Re: Bill Irwin, Exceptional Hiker Message-ID: <16624@bunker.UUCP> Date: 7 Jan 91 18:12:53 GMT Sender: wtm@bunker.UUCP Reply-To: Earl.Appleby@hnews.fidonet.org Distribution: misc Organization: The Handicap News, Shelton CT (203) 337-1607 Lines: 43 Approved: wtm@bunker.UUCP Index Number: 12698 NT> yes, congratulations to bill......AND congratulations to ALL those NT> who go on day after day in their routine, refusing to give up but NT> not doing anything that would make the headlines - those who go on NT> without worldwide support and continued NT> pats on the back - they are my heros. You're signing my song! I'm a great believer in the heroism of everyday life, especially life against the odds. A reporter asked me the other day how my Dad showed his love for us. (I'd told her that Dad had given us more love than we had given him during his nearly ten years of life in coma.) Every day of life was a tremendous gift of love, I replied. When "quality-of-lifers" would ask self-serving questions about my father's "abilities," I'd be apt to respond, "Do you mean will he do tricks for you? No, he doesn't have to." And yet, with what must have been Herculean effort, Dad would give special gifts, surprises of the heart, like when he'd kiss Mom once or twice in the course of a year...(he seemed to know just when)...or the special-effort couple of breaths in response to Mom's cajoling just minutes before he died. When loved ones see their disABLED do things the skeptics scoff at, it doesn't surprise me. Most any of our CURE family could tell you the same stories. Dad knew he didn't have to perform to prove his worth to us. As for those who think you have to prove your right to live with tricks, even the Good Book says, "Do not cast your pearls before swine." Didn't mean to bring my soap box, Nadine , but just wanted you to know that I agree with you 100% from the heart as well as the head. But while I believe the echo can pat themselves on the back...(or kick themselves in the butt when that is called for), I'd rather take a page out of Betty's book, and send hugs all around, especially, to you, for telling it like it is! (((((((((((((((((((NT)))))))))))))))))) PS--Bill Irwin would be the first to say he didn't do anything special. What I found special was his attitude towards life, not his physical feats. Anything that inspires anyone to face the next day has my blessing! -- Uucp: ..!{decvax,oliveb}!bunker!hcap!hnews!Earl.Appleby Internet: Earl.Appleby@hnews.fidonet.org