Do you see a gorgeous, happy lady? That's my mom, giving a Thanksgiving Day hug to one of the "Kids," as she calls them, from HDC. Most of you know that my brother Paul passed away while in his 20's, from a brain hemorrhage (schwere Blutung im Gehirn).Paul was mentally handicapped. Thankfully, he died quite fulfilled, partly because he loved having something to do each day, going to work & making money, at a nursery out in the country. 
Paul lived in a group home for 10 months, then returned home to my folks, but continued working for the center. He helped in growing herbs which were then sold to Publix Supermarkets. The work environment was/ is run by HDC, the Human Development Center. My dad has served on their board for years. Here he and Mom are standing by the caring CEO, Jim Bell, who has a heart to help disabled adults find employment, gain independence & learn life skills.
I'm bragging on Cecil, who used to be one of Paul's roommates and just won an award tonight at the HDC Christmas Party. Yea!!!
We ate delicious Cuban food at a city landmark, Centro Asturiano, which (on a side note...) has a restaurant downstairs (the old bar is 40 feet of pure onyx) plus a classic theater w/ stage upstairs, where I'd won an award, too, "Sobresaliente" ("outstanding"), in a city-wide high schoolers' Spanish competition reciting 1 Corinthians 13. My city has a LONG Cuban & Spanish- American history with much pride!
A big holiday tradition we have is bringing food to the 4th of July picnic, Thanksgiving & Christmas dinners. Shaking hands. Giving hugs. And dad says the blessing over the meals. 
The twins by me on Thanksgiving Day, Jorge and Luis, are so friendly. Mom thinks one of them looks like Adam Sandler. 
(what do u think?) Below, after our visit to the group home, Bruce & Heather welcomed us to a scrumptous Thanksgiving dinner.
No comments:
Post a Comment