He’s been able to hone in on certain people that are hurting when, like, he has no idea.
Either we know, or we don’t know and we find out after.
But, he can always tell.
There was a lady at church. We were there and Finley had seen her across the foyer. So, he just saunters off to her.
He’s never seen her before.
Anyway, he tugs on her pant leg and she looks down. He reaches up for her to pick him up and she does. He just gives her a big hug and pats her on the back.
He does this thing where he holds your face in his hands and stares right into your eyes.
He did that to the lady and she just broke.
She immediately broke down.
Turns out, she had just lost a lady that she worked with for years who had Down syndrome.
She was heartbroken.
Now, she’s the one who’s been working one-on-one with him. She got Finley to start enjoying nursery again.
I’ve been busy scribbling a book of stories about Manitobans with Down syndrome for the past few months.
I can almost see the first draft starting to take shape, but it’s stories like this that inspire me to keep writing.
Finley is five years old and has Down syndrome. His dad told me the story about little Finley and the lady at church.
Listen to people. Like, really, listen.
Like Finley listened to the lady.
Listen to their stories. People have amazing stories and they’re all worth hearing about or writing down or whatever.
All you have to do is listen.
And then write a gajillion pages in three days.
Whatever, right?
Take a break, though.
Eat a sandwich or something.
Sandwich.
Power Goes Out (to eat) 