Steve,
    Your post, as usual, is both eloquent and so real. Thank you for your
powerful sharing and the gift you have to express yourself. Self expression
isn't gone due to disabilities...just possibly readjusted in another
direction. You are the perfect example of someone who has walked the talk and
live as who you are, rather than for who you wished you would have been, or
hope to be. I admire that more than you will ever know.
    You wrote:  "The privilege of my hard fought and won adulthood is that
while the process never completes I get better in its practice and emerge
ready for whatever life offers next."
    I believe that your statement is true for anyone who is willing to
approach life with a healthy attitude. No matter what our circumstances may
have been or be, we each have choices to make in how we look at things and
approach them.
     Steve, I will take you with your "broken wings" anytime! Now if only you
could see yourself in a more forgiving and gracious light... that would be
even better! <3 Elaine