Stones

     Our daughter has a nice habit of picking up a colourful or interesting stone for me when she takes one of the dogs for a walk. This doesn't happen often of course, given her history with seizures. When it does happen though, it is a good reminder to me of her efforts to be independent but still think of others. And I have a small collection of pretty or unusual rocks. When we go away on a trip our daughter makes sure to bring her wonderful friend and bus driver extraordinaire an interesting stone. She too must have a nice little collection of her own.
     As our daughter's time at high school winds down to the last couple of months, I have been thinking of what a difference this woman has made to our daughter's years there. We would never have known this fun, friendly and supportive person if it were not for our daughter taking the little bus, the special needs bus, to school every day. Folks like her and the kind woman in the Youth Centre at school make such a difference not just to individuals but to entire families. The quality of all of our lives is made better by the caring and acceptance that our daughter experiences from them. I am not sure if they understand the impact that their smiles and warmth have on lonely students but it is huge. And I would like to say again, "Thank you Robyn and Fil! You are awesome!"