Earlier this week I was speaking to a class of second year dental students who wanted to better understand how best to serve patients with autism. After my talk one of the students pulled me aside and, with obvious sincerity, wanted to know how long it took for my wife(Martina) and me to become “okay” [...]
Archive for the ‘Autism’ Category
Thank You, Julian
Posted in Autism on November 24, 2010 | Leave a Comment »
Sometimes It’s Just Hard
Posted in Autism on November 10, 2010 | 1 Comment »
If you’ve followed this blog then you are well aware that it’s been nearly two and a half months since my last entry. It’s not out of a lack of things to share about Julian, quite the contrary. It’s just that, well…the last ten weeks have not been easy for Julian. Each time I sat [...]
Happy Birthday Son
Posted in Autism on August 31, 2010 | 7 Comments »
It was seventeen years ago on this very date(August 31st) that I first met Julian. Early that afternoon he was born and, immediately, forever changed my world. As I held him I searched his eyes for some measure of recognition, some tacit acknowledgement that we would be forever bonded. Obviously that’s expecting quite a bit [...]
Dad, What Will My Life Be Like?
Posted in Autism on August 20, 2010 | 1 Comment »
Recently Martina(my wife) and I were having a conversation with our son Jared about the significance of embarking on his high school journey. In a few days he will begin life as a 14-year-old freshman. We discussed how this period would be the foundation for his path to college, which would, in turn, help map out his early [...]
Son, You Look Great!
Posted in Autism on August 1, 2010 | 1 Comment »
“Dad, how am I doing?” The question came from Julian with all the earnestness of a small child, seeking affirmation that he was okay. “You’re doing great!” was my animated reply. He then asked, “How do I look?” With just as much enthusiasm as before, I responded “Awesome!”. This exchange took place at a restaurant [...]
The World’s Greatest Gig
Posted in Autism on June 17, 2010 | 3 Comments »
“I got myself a caddie!” That’s how I informed my close friends of the birth of Julian sixteen and a half years ago. Like the game of golf we’ve been in the fairway, lost in the woods, had some bogeys, scrambled to make par and also aced some holes. This round, as father to him [...]
You Must Be A Ballplayer
Posted in Autism on June 14, 2010 | 1 Comment »
The man eyed Julian for a few moments, scanning him up and down. Wearing shorts and a t-shirt he(Julian) looked every bit the young athlete. We were waiting for our order at a restaurant when the gentleman came over and, with complete confidence, made his pronouncement. “Let me guess, basketball…football, maybe a wide receiver…heck with those long [...]
And Now A Word From The Filmmakers
Posted in Autism on June 1, 2010 | Leave a Comment »
It wasn’t backstage at Cannes or the Oscars but there was just as much pride of accomplishment on the part of the young filmmakers as Kathryn Bigelow, James Cameron or Denzel Washington would’ve displayed. Julian and his friends had just debuted the trailer for their upcoming film short “5-4-3-2-1″ and now stood before the crowd answering questions. This took [...]
A Short Stroll
Posted in Autism on May 19, 2010 | 1 Comment »
I tried to occupy myself in a number of ways. Reading, that lasted for about two minutes, television, about three minutes. I sat down to work on a book I’m writing but was up from the computer before I could marshal any coherent thoughts. Nothing was working. Julian was out for a walk, alone, in our neighborhood. [...]
A Hug’s A Wonderful Thing
Posted in Autism on May 2, 2010 | 3 Comments »
The lady gave me a disapproving look. I smiled back, hopeful of conveying to her that I wished her well as her day progressed. We(Julian and I) were at the local market when he walked over to me, put his head on my shoulder, wrapped his arms around me and said “I love you, Dad”. I, as [...]
