Fifteen Candles

Happy 15th Birthday, Alphonse, child of our hearts.
You weren’t like other children
and God was well aware
You’d need a caring family
with love enough to share.
And so He sent you to us
and much to our surprise
you haven’t been a challenge
but a blessing in disguise.
Your winning smiles and laughter
the pleasures you impart
far outweigh your special needs
and melt the [...]

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Autism And The Movies: We Made History

We woke up unusually early that day, excited and buoyant. Even Alphonse, who wakes up late most days, didn’t complain when we woke him up. “It’s your day, anak,” I whispered gently to this sleeping baby, all five feet and four inches of him. He stirred a little, blinked a few times, then jumped immediately [...]

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Birthday Bonanza

This

was supposed to be my birthday cake. All 12 by 8 inches of soft, moist butter cake topped with a 10-inch fondant and royal icing Hello Kitty Chinese Empress in red. This was a surprise birthday cake A had especially made for me.
 
 
And this
was all that was left of Hello Kitty, ten minutes after she arrived in [...]

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The One Who Got Away

I wrote this a few weeks before Valentine’s Day, with the intention of posting it as soon as it was finished. Somehow, the days slipped through my fingers and I forgot.
This is for you, A -  the one who stayed – for all the Valentines you and I have been together. Even through our sometimes difficult life, [...]

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Happy New Year, Friends!

As the hours of the old year draw to a close, allow me to wish all a Happy New Year! Thank you for making my first year of blogging an experience worth remembering. Thank you for your friendship, your kindness, and your thoughtfulness. I wish you love, peace, and God’s grace always!

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An Early Christmas

When you find yourself on the receiving end of kindness and thoughtfulness by a loved one, the feeling of happiness is indescribable. Such feelings are common in my 17-year marriage with A, the person who showers me with his love and kindness, even after his wife has grown fat (then again, I’ve never ever been [...]

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A Downpour Of Love

It was early evening on the 13th, just another seemingly ordinary Thursday. I had just come from the bath when the car horn blared a few times to signal A’s coming. I heard Alphonse run as fast as his feet could carry him as he rushed to meet his dad in the garage. This was always Alphonse’s best time [...]

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There We Are

Dearest A,
Today, I woke up with a sense of sadness hanging over me. This is the first Valentine’s Day in years that you will not be home with me. I can’t remember a time when the day didn’t mean a day off from work for you, and as mushy as it sounded, everyone understood. Valentine’s [...]

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A Valentine for Autism

Whenever people meet Alphonse for the first time, they can’t help but ask questions. Most of the time, their first question would be, “Was he born with it?” to which I would reply with a straight, no-nonsense “Yes.” While Alphonse was officially diagnosed at eighteen months, looking back, I can’t help but see some of [...]

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