Why would it be juvenile?  Go ahead and put butterflies on 'em; they're YOUR braces.  I wish I'd had such a cool choice when I wore braces as a kid.

Kat


On Wed, 3 Apr 2002 07:48:06 -0500 Jennifer Zubko <[log in to unmask]> wrote:

Hi Everyone,
Here is a little note as to why I chose butterflies on my new braces. The
very first poem I ever wrote (in a tattered grade 9 journal that I still
have at home somewhere), was about a little boy who finds a butterfly with a
broken wing in his yard while playing one day. He picks up this frightened,
delicate creature, whose one uninjured wing is beating frantically against
his palm and takes it home, nursing it to health with ointment and time. He
then lets the well butterfuly fly free again. I  wrote the poem as a tribute
to an English teacher whom I loved, who was, at the time, the onlyone NOT to
see my disability (or injured wing, if you will), before my intellect. When
my family had a very old computer, I used to have it saved, but it is gone
now.... And these days I would dedicate it all to you, because you have
rescued me so many times, helped me to grow, believe in myself, let me be
free to be myself....So thats why I chose butterflies on my new braces.  If
you want, when I  am trying to rest in between assignments, I could try to
reproduce it. I see that little boy in each one of you... And myself as the
butterfly, one of God's creatures who needs help. So thats why I chose
butterflies on my AFOS... They grow and change, are fragile and strong-- yet
sometimes need help. So its more a symbolic reason than any fashion sense,
though I love the purple. I could try and reproduce the poem if anyone
wished. (Collett as you are my Canadian poetry teacher, I am sure you would
love it if I could, though I am sorry my papers are not done. I have not had
my electric wheelchair for over a week, so can't leave my room, and the only
place the Attendants go is in Residence. I can't even go to a doctor's appt.
on campus today), or the library. I am going to ask my GP to write a note
for extensions re: papers  I have left to write. Stress does not allow my
best work, and increases my pain.
So that's the story of my butterrflies, and I thank you all for being that
little boy in my life rescuing me, taking care of me, and letting me fly
free and be myself.
Love,
Jenn

-now do you think its juvenile to put butterflies on my braces, knowing the
significance-- even though the majority of responses have been to do
whatever I want?