Earl.Appleby@hnews.fidonet.org (Earl Appleby) (12/14/90)
Index Number: 12488
Congrats to Bill Irwin, the first blind hiker to complete the Appalachian
Trail (something this son of New Hampshire has never even attempted).
You may find his story of pluck and perseverance in file area 12 of the
Handicap News BBS (203-337-1607) as HIKER.ZIP.
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Uucp: ..!{decvax,oliveb}!bunker!hcap!hnews!Earl.Appleby
Internet: Earl.Appleby@hnews.fidonet.orgNadine.Thomas@p1.f7.n300.z1.fidonet.org (Nadine Thomas) (01/08/91)
Index Number: 12687
EA> Congrats to Bill Irwin, the first blind hiker to complete the
EA> Appalachian
EA> Trail (something this son of New Hampshire has never even
EA> attempted).
yes, congratulations to bill......AND congratulations to ALL those
who go on day after day in their routine, refusing to give up but
not doing anything that would make the headlines - those who go on
without worldwide support and continued pats on the back - they are
my heros.
how about everyone on the echo giving themselves a pat on the back
for a job well done.
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Uucp: ..!{decvax,oliveb}!bunker!hcap!hnews!300!7.1!Nadine.Thomas
Internet: Nadine.Thomas@p1.f7.n300.z1.fidonet.orgEarl.Appleby@hnews.fidonet.org (Earl Appleby) (01/08/91)
Index Number: 12698
NT> yes, congratulations to bill......AND congratulations to ALL those
NT> who go on day after day in their routine, refusing to give up but
NT> not doing anything that would make the headlines - those who go on
NT> without worldwide support and continued
NT> pats on the back - they are my heros.
You're signing my song! I'm a great believer in the heroism of everyday life,
especially life against the odds. A reporter asked me the other day how my Dad
showed his love for us. (I'd told her that Dad had given us more love than we
had given him during his nearly ten years of life in coma.) Every day of life
was a tremendous gift of love, I replied.
When "quality-of-lifers" would ask self-serving questions about my father's
"abilities," I'd be apt to respond, "Do you mean will he do tricks for you? No,
he doesn't have to." And yet, with what must have been Herculean effort, Dad
would give special gifts, surprises of the heart, like when he'd kiss Mom
once or twice in the course of a year...(he seemed to know just when)...or
the special-effort couple of breaths in response to Mom's cajoling just minutes
before he died.
When loved ones see their disABLED do things the skeptics scoff at, it doesn't
surprise me. Most any of our CURE family could tell you the same stories. Dad
knew he didn't have to perform to prove his worth to us. As for those who think
you have to prove your right to live with tricks, even the Good Book says, "Do
not cast your pearls before swine."
Didn't mean to bring my soap box, Nadine <grin>, but just wanted you to know
that I agree with you 100% from the heart as well as the head. But while I
believe the echo can pat themselves on the back...(or kick themselves in the
butt when that is called for), I'd rather take a page out of Betty's book, and
send hugs all around, especially, to you, for telling it like it is!
(((((((((((((((((((NT))))))))))))))))))
PS--Bill Irwin would be the first to say he didn't do anything special.
What I found special was his attitude towards life, not his physical
feats. Anything that inspires anyone to face the next day has my blessing!
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