He was first in the 50metre back stroke race at the Special Olympics Swim Meet in Oakville on March 21st.
I gave him thumbs up.
I said it made him Number One.
He put his head, down and nodded.
But I could see his smile.
Nancy Black is head coach of Master Ducks and community co-ordinator of Aurora Special Olympics.
Adam's mother Heather has become a competitive swimmer because of her involvement in the program.
Now she has taken a clinic for coaches.
Is nineteen. He finished high school last year. Didn't have a focus on his future. Decided to work for a year and get his bearings.
He didn't really focus too heavily in high school either . He had a hard time maintaining interest in the subjects being taught.
Keenan and Kari were working and saving and planning a grand tour of Europe. Aaron caught the fever. Worked full-time at Food Choppers, took all the hours he could get and joined the tour.
Before he left , he had been adopted sort-of, and tagged along on the job with a liquor representative and quite enjoyed that. Wore a shirt and tie and concentrated in making a good impression.
Went to Jamaica for ten days.. Enjoyed that too.
Worked night shifts over the holiday season at a liquor store. Made some money.
Aaron is nineteen, bright, articulate, and entertaining.His Aunt Theresa says, "That Aaron, he is smooth."
He registered at George Brown College for the 2o1o/2011 school year. He's excited about that.
Much to his mother's concern though , he is making no effort to find a job. Heather is beside herself trying to think of the right things to say to him to persuade him how important it is to work and save to pay for his education.
From hindsight, I try to persuade her not to worry.
In the meantime, she finds herself keeping him company doing fun things. She enjoys his company and he enjoys hers. She spends money she wouldn't be spending otherwise.
Yesterday, Heather was here. She is my handy-man. Aaron called a few times. Ends up coming down from Newmarket on the bus and joining us for lunch. He called half an hour after they left to thank me for lunch,(Mary Brown's Chicken) and tell me how much he enjoyed it.
I enjoy his company too. Everybody does. When we talk about the advantage of finding a job, Aaron smiles and says the job will find him. He is a bit concerned because his money is running out. But this week he received an income tax rebate.
He also received a call from the liquor store. They are planning summer staff complement.
The job has found Aaron.
There was a message waiting on my voice machine when I came home on Sunday evening. Neil had died that morning.
Neil is my sister's son. He was a casualty of the sixties culture. His adult life was lost
and tragic. His mind deserted him and his body betrayed him a few weeks ago. He spent the rest of his time in care.
When I heard the news, the picture that flashed before me was a little boy of five or six getting off a plane from Scotland wearing his cowboy belt with double holsters and twin pearl handled pistols ready for whatever Canada had in store. His black hair lay flat and shining in a fringe over his dark brown eyes. A sprinkle of freckles covered his nose.
He hadn't known his family before he died. The last time his dad left his room he bade him "Adios". Incredibly, they heard him whisper back "Adios"
We have never lived in the same place since they came to Canada. They have driven down for various weddings.
Now it's our turn to drive to Ottawa for Neil.
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