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Rscmaine · 16 May 2010, 08:07 PM

Friday morning my lovely daughter participated in her 5th Special Olympics and won her first "First Place" ribbon! I thought I'd share a few pictures from this wonderful event.

Click on the small picture for a slideshow of some highlights. *Note - the tiny girl in blue is hugging a complete stranger out of pure joy! There's a lot of that at these events.

For those of you who have never attended a Special Olympics event, it is the most uplifting and positive thing you will witness in all of your life. God Bless you Mrs. Shriver!

Here's a link to the full abum http://picasaweb.google.com/nat.park...lOlympics2010#

Each year when my daughter's (very) small team leaves for the event the entire school empties their classrooms and lines all the halls of the school and cheers them on their way...

God I love this place!

Lion · 16 May 2010, 10:26 PM

Nat, I'm glad that you and your daughter had a good time as these events are very important to and for the recipients!!!

CoopJr · 16 May 2010, 10:32 PM

Never gone but I do contribute every year. It's nice to see all of the happy faces that it brings.

Rscmaine · 16 May 2010, 10:41 PM

I cannot begin to say how important all the early years interventions have been for my daughter - and for all the other kids I have followed over the years.

My daughter did not say a single word until she was almost 6 - she existed in a private world which was completely shut off from everyone around her.

Years of one on one speech and occupational therapy have broken through this invisible wall and delivered our happy chatty enthusiastic daughter to us at last. These people are saints and true miracle workers.

She is now reading at a 2nd grade level and doing simle math and growing every day.

We are facing school budget cuts throughout the entire State as are so many...and my fear is that early intervention will be sacrificed.

My wife is working with our likely next Governor on her staff - and my input to her - and to all states everywhere is simple.

Money spent on early intervention is CHEAP money. A few years teaching basic life skills versus a lifetime of expense caring for people with disabilities which could be eased with the right teaching.

If we had not had the first 5 years of intervention, I have no doubt that my beautiful, intelligent, sweet, caring daughter would have had to spend the rest of her life in an institution.

Now, I am certain that she will be able to hold a job and live (perhaps in a group setting) a relatively independant life on her own terms.

There can be no stronger argument for early childhood programs for the disabled among us.

(and thanks for letting me rant...this is an emotional issue with me)

Rscmaine · 16 May 2010, 10:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CoopJr

Never gone but I do contribute every year. It's nice to see all of the happy faces that it brings.

Make the time, Coop. It will change your outlook on life forever.

Brunotheboxer · 16 May 2010, 10:51 PM

Very nice and congrats.

STEELINOX · 17 May 2010, 12:02 AM

It is the best of times, Nat, congratulations !

Art 1 · 17 May 2010, 02:35 AM

Congrats to her ! Special Olympics is a good thing. My daughter volunteered recently at a swim meet, I went in to watch some of it. It was very heart warming to see these athletes cheer each other on and give they had each end every time.

jatco · 17 May 2010, 02:45 AM

Excellent Nat and Congrats to your daughter....
One of the best programs out there for those in need...
Kudos..!!

Dr. Robert · 17 May 2010, 03:41 AM

Fantastic & wonderful event. You are a good father & you have a terrific daughter...you are a lucky man.

figbo · 17 May 2010, 06:16 AM

Thank you for sharing that wonderful event with us!

JMIND · 17 May 2010, 12:56 PM

Great slideshow, Nat. Tell your daughter congratulations from our family!

Skullring · 17 May 2010, 01:43 PM

I have helped by chaperoning some kids at Special Olympics when I was in the Army. I think it is a great thing. Very heart warming to see the kids enjoying themselves so much. Thanks for the pictures Nat.

Mike B · 17 May 2010, 01:55 PM

Wow, that is fantastic !!
A BIG congratulations to your daughter !!

Mike

joeychitwood · 19 May 2010, 04:27 AM

Wonderful post, Nat. My youngest daughter has autism, and though she generally stays away from crowds and events like Special Olympics, we've watched many of the other students in her classes participate. One can't leave a special Olympics event without a smile on the face and a warm feeling in the heart. It's an organization to which we enjoy giving.

16 May 2010, 08:07 PM	#1
Rscmaine "TRF" Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Real Name: Nat Parkinson Location: Maine, USA Watch: me pull a rabbit.. Posts: 1,196	Thank you Eunice Shriver! Friday morning my lovely daughter participated in her 5th Special Olympics and won her first "First Place" ribbon! I thought I'd share a few pictures from this wonderful event. Click on the small picture for a slideshow of some highlights. Note - the tiny girl in blue is hugging a complete stranger out of pure joy! There's a lot of that at these events. For those of you who have never attended a Special Olympics event, it is the most uplifting and positive thing you will witness in all of your life. God Bless you Mrs. Shriver! Here's a link to the full abum http://picasaweb.google.com/nat.park...lOlympics2010# Each year when my daughter's (very) small team leaves for the event the entire school empties their classrooms and lines all the halls of the school and cheers them on their way... God I love this place! __________________ When the alien spaceships actually landed, to everyone's surprise, it turned out that the world's governments had not been hiding anything. They were just as clueless as the rest of us!*

16 May 2010, 10:26 PM	#2
Lion "TRF" Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Real Name: Leo Location: Midwest Watch: GMT-II 16710 PEPSI Posts: 21,461	Nat, I'm glad that you and your daughter had a good time as these events are very important to and for the recipients!!! __________________ SS GMT-II 16710 PEPSI(Z-serial#) THE ONLY DIFFERENCE BETWEEN MEN AND BOYS IS THE PRICE OF THE TOYS!!! MontBlanc Meisterstuck Doue Silver Barley MontBlanc Meisterstuck Solitaire Doue Signum Proud Card Carrying Member of the Curmudgeons.....Yikes!!!

16 May 2010, 10:41 PM	#4
Rscmaine "TRF" Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Real Name: Nat Parkinson Location: Maine, USA Watch: me pull a rabbit.. Posts: 1,196	I cannot begin to say how important all the early years interventions have been for my daughter - and for all the other kids I have followed over the years. My daughter did not say a single word until she was almost 6 - she existed in a private world which was completely shut off from everyone around her. Years of one on one speech and occupational therapy have broken through this invisible wall and delivered our happy chatty enthusiastic daughter to us at last. These people are saints and true miracle workers. She is now reading at a 2nd grade level and doing simle math and growing every day. We are facing school budget cuts throughout the entire State as are so many...and my fear is that early intervention will be sacrificed. My wife is working with our likely next Governor on her staff - and my input to her - and to all states everywhere is simple. Money spent on early intervention is CHEAP money. A few years teaching basic life skills versus a lifetime of expense caring for people with disabilities which could be eased with the right teaching. If we had not had the first 5 years of intervention, I have no doubt that my beautiful, intelligent, sweet, caring daughter would have had to spend the rest of her life in an institution. Now, I am certain that she will be able to hold a job and live (perhaps in a group setting) a relatively independant life on her own terms. There can be no stronger argument for early childhood programs for the disabled among us. (and thanks for letting me rant...this is an emotional issue with me) __________________ When the alien spaceships actually landed, to everyone's surprise, it turned out that the world's governments had not been hiding anything. They were just as clueless as the rest of us!

17 May 2010, 12:02 AM	#7
STEELINOX 2024 ROLEX DATE-JUST41 Pledge Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Real Name: Sink-O! Location: a praire in AZ Watch: ROLEX-less atm... Posts: 14,007	It is the best of times, Nat, congratulations ! __________________ *Positive Waves Baby* Lug Hole Loyalist / Chamfer Line Inspector INFORTHE WIN 274

17 May 2010, 02:45 AM	#9
jatco 2024 ROLEX DATEJUST41 Pledge Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Real Name: Thomas Location: YVR Watch: 116233/79190 Posts: 48,043	Excellent Nat and Congrats to your daughter.... One of the best programs out there for those in need... Kudos..!! __________________ . . ' A Crown for every achievement '

16 May 2010, 10:32 PM	#3
CoopJr "TRF" Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Real Name: Coop Location: U.S.A. Watch: Subs Posts: 6,455	Never gone but I do contribute every year. It's nice to see all of the happy faces that it brings.

16 May 2010, 10:51 PM	#6
Brunotheboxer Banned Join Date: Mar 2008 Real Name: Bruno Location: Boston/Cape Cod Watch: 16610,PAM. 111, G Posts: 7,608	Very nice and congrats.

17 May 2010, 02:35 AM	#8
Art 1 Banned Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Florida, Canada Watch: Rol/Seik/Tud/Omega Posts: 30,244	Congrats to her ! Special Olympics is a good thing. My daughter volunteered recently at a swim meet, I went in to watch some of it. It was very heart warming to see these athletes cheer each other on and give they had each end every time.

17 May 2010, 03:41 AM	#10
Dr. Robert 2024 ROLEX DATEJUST41 Pledge Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Real Name: Bob Location: U.S.A. Watch: 1655 Posts: 61,413	Fantastic & wonderful event. You are a good father & you have a terrific daughter...you are a lucky man.

17 May 2010, 06:16 AM	#11
figbo "TRF" Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Real Name: El Raf-O Location: florida Watch: tt GMT2c,Omega Posts: 19,687	Thank you for sharing that wonderful event with us! __________________ member # 9862 Best bartender in the world!! Last of the Bastid Tossers p club member #9

17 May 2010, 12:56 PM	#12
JMIND "TRF" Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Real Name: Jerry Location: New Mexico Watch: 16610 M Series Posts: 1,084	Great slideshow, Nat. Tell your daughter congratulations from our family!

17 May 2010, 01:43 PM	#13
Skullring "TRF" Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Real Name: Phillip Location: Alabama Watch: Triple 6 SD Posts: 1,720	I have helped by chaperoning some kids at Special Olympics when I was in the Army. I think it is a great thing. Very heart warming to see the kids enjoying themselves so much. Thanks for the pictures Nat. __________________ It is only with the heart that one can see rightly; what is essential is invisible to the eye. - Antoine de Saint Exupéry

17 May 2010, 01:55 PM	#14
Mike B "TRF" Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Real Name: Mike Location: Gilbert, AZ Watch: DSSD, Omega SMP Posts: 3,055	Wow, that is fantastic !! A BIG congratulations to your daughter !! Mike

19 May 2010, 04:27 AM	#15
joeychitwood "TRF" Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Way Up North USA Watch: Rolexes & Tudors Posts: 6,361	Wonderful post, Nat. My youngest daughter has autism, and though she generally stays away from crowds and events like Special Olympics, we've watched many of the other students in her classes participate. One can't leave a special Olympics event without a smile on the face and a warm feeling in the heart. It's an organization to which we enjoy giving.

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