Just another word about last night's dinner. When we were leaving the restaurant, there were alot of people waiting by the door to be seated. Over to the left was a young lady who I only caught a glance of as we passed by and dodged other people. M asked to me as we turned the corner into the airlock/entryway, "Did you see her?" I knew what he meant and said I did. I asked if she'd reacted to Braska, and he stepped back to a window between the airlock and the waiting area to try to wave with Braska, but there were too many people between.
Big deal? Yeah, maybe. But I've found it quite interesting that adults with DS, especially when with their parents, are so happy to see Braska (and us too) and they love to say hello. I am not bothered by it at all. We've had no odd situations, just really great people who have wanted to meet our little princess or simply connect with someone under that invisible umbrella that is DS. I'm always a bit amazed that they can pick her out of a crowd. Granted, I don't see the DS anymore. I mean, sometimes it's clearer than others in her face, but most of the time, I look at her and just can't find it, even when I try. I think the glasses help alot, just kind of a distraction of sorts for people. We've found that to be true, but it's not at all that we're trying to hide her. It's just always neat to me that from across a crowded room, this young lady spotted Braska and just beamed while she watched us walk by. There were a couple other kids around, but she was totally zoned in on Braska.
I wish we'd have had the chance to go back and say hello or something. I don't know how that would have gone exactly, but had I noticed her sooner, and the crowded thing not have been a problem, I would have stopped for Braska to wave, for sure. I actually had to ask M if he was sure that the young lady had DS. He said yes, but he had to look twice too. That's cool, I think. Not that we wonder, but that previous to having Braska, I wouldn't have believed that I'd ever *not* notice someone with DS, that they would seem "normal" enough to blend in. We've come a long way, and I'm enjoying the journey.
Big deal? Yeah, maybe. But I've found it quite interesting that adults with DS, especially when with their parents, are so happy to see Braska (and us too) and they love to say hello. I am not bothered by it at all. We've had no odd situations, just really great people who have wanted to meet our little princess or simply connect with someone under that invisible umbrella that is DS. I'm always a bit amazed that they can pick her out of a crowd. Granted, I don't see the DS anymore. I mean, sometimes it's clearer than others in her face, but most of the time, I look at her and just can't find it, even when I try. I think the glasses help alot, just kind of a distraction of sorts for people. We've found that to be true, but it's not at all that we're trying to hide her. It's just always neat to me that from across a crowded room, this young lady spotted Braska and just beamed while she watched us walk by. There were a couple other kids around, but she was totally zoned in on Braska.
I wish we'd have had the chance to go back and say hello or something. I don't know how that would have gone exactly, but had I noticed her sooner, and the crowded thing not have been a problem, I would have stopped for Braska to wave, for sure. I actually had to ask M if he was sure that the young lady had DS. He said yes, but he had to look twice too. That's cool, I think. Not that we wonder, but that previous to having Braska, I wouldn't have believed that I'd ever *not* notice someone with DS, that they would seem "normal" enough to blend in. We've come a long way, and I'm enjoying the journey.
I think it's simple why people notice Braska....
ReplyDeleteBecause she's awesome!
Nothing to do with DS.
Totally to do with Braska. ;-)
I love chance encounters like that. I had one at Target a week ago. A young man with Ds was shopping with his mom. They were in line in front of me at the check out and he was excited to see the baby, so he leaned over and whispered in his mom's ear. She said, "Yes, that's a cute little baby, isn't it?" I smiled back at them and said thanks, but inside I wanted to say "Hey! I have a son with Ds, too! He's at school right now. Want to see his photo?"
ReplyDeleteInstead I just let them go.
Wish I would of found the right words.