CELEBRATING MY CEREBRAL PALSY By Cindy Curtis Please do not look down, I have nothing to be ashamed. You see a woman in a wheelchair. You do not see my inner-beauty. The Lord has blessed me with the gift of Cerebral Palsy. Through it, He has taught me to be strong. My life is a challenge. We all have challenges. Through these challenges, He is molding me into a victorious warrior. He has proven over and over again, His love for me overflows. No matter what the situation, His hand has a gentle, but firm grasp on me. When you see me, you may ask yourself, “Why is she always smiling?” Why? The Lord has given me a precious, precious gift. I am celebrating my Cerebral Palsy. On Tue, 27 Feb 2001 00:47:37 EST Bobby Greer <[log in to unmask]> writes: > Mag,=20 > > You asked for it. I have posted a while back but many of the new > members= > =20 > may not have seen it. > > > > > My Life > Version C > Bobby Greer > 8/18/96 > > =E2=80=9CNight life ain=E2=80=99t no good life. > But it=E2=80=99s my life=E2=80=9D =20 > Willie Nelson > > Born in north central Texas > With cerebral palsy to share cropping parents > One brother, older, smarter and richer > But not happier. > =20 > Moved to San Antonio, learned to walk at three > Fell alot, sewn up alot, got used to ether, I liked it! > WWII was in full bloom, town full of soldiers > Lived in public housing for awhile > > Had one dog, Lady, a Collie. > Got her in the third grade, put her to sleep > When I was a Junior in college > Loved that dog! > > Went to a special school in 6th grade, > Ridiculed in regular grades before that, > Was pitying myself till I saw my 1st quad with bulbar > polio=20 > Went easier on the self-pitying > > Learned more from going to special ed.=20 > Than from special ed. teachers, > Learned to ride city busses > Learned about the =E2=80=9Cshady side=E2=80=9D of downtown > > Learned alot from my Mexican friend, Salvador > Salvador lived a bare bones, impoverished existence, > In a dug out with a dirt floor for a home > His Mom made the best bean rolls I=E2=80=99ve ever eaten > > > > > He taught me to cuss in Spanish,=20 > I taught him to cuss in English > We knew every inch of the river walk, > Went by the Alamo every day. > > Finished high school, went to college > Finished college with a major in psychology > The major for sick people trying to find themselves > Under the guise of learning to help others > > Counselled older disabled adults, > Some said I would inspire these adults > I was a smartass greenhorn with some book klnowledge > The adults were not inspired > > Began drinking regularly after work > I was changing for the worse. > Working with others I had to faced myself > Ran off to get a doctorate, couldn=E2=80=99t take what I > saw > > Got a doctorate, a wife who still loves me after 33 years > Had three jobs, in New Jersey, D.C and Memphis > Been teaching in Memphis for 30 years, now. > Adopted and help raise two fine children > > Have taught over 5,000 students > Have taught courses in special ed. voc. rehab., and A&D > counseling > Now work with batterers in anger management. > Amazing what a short interest span will do > > Developed hypetension probably the result of drinking > Had a quadruple bypass in =E2=80=9883 > And an endoarterectomy on the left carotid in =E2=80=9888 > Still do not eat right or excercise > > My true loves are Joyce(my wife), my children and now > grandson > My dog Max, blues music, rock and roll music, > Playing poker, Doc Holliday, Hiaason=E2=80=99s novels=20 > Spending money, Mexican food, ice cream and fried chicken > Old WW II war planes, Old West History and John > Callahan=E2=80=99s c= > artoons. > > Most memorable experiences, road trips with my Dad > My first date with Joyce, holding my grandson for the 1st > time=20 > Quadruple by-pass, walking in Jerusalem > Seeing the Sea of Galillee, seven days in London, > =20 > In two years I=E2=80=99ve lost my dad, a dear niece and > countless fr= > iends in=20 > AA > I have learned to hate cancer and its > =E2=80=9Ctreatments=E2=80=9D. > I have learned the formula time equals love. > If you love someone, you spend time with them. > > I don=E2=80=99t give others enough of my time, > I am at once intolerant and lovable, > Brilliant and stupid, graceful and blundering > Most people I know accept me for who I am, except myself. > > The two most priceless things are love and the present > Death comes to soon and unexpectedly > Life is joyous and is also brutal > Enjoy the good times and brave the brutal ones > > If you have something good to say to somone, sayit > There are no guarantees you will ever see them again > Say it now, say it with heart, say it sincerely > Most of all, say it > > I have witnessed brutality and miracles > I have been inspired and disgusted > Most of all I value playing life like cards in a poker > hand > Play what=E2=80=99s dealt and don=E2=80=99t whine. >