Ask Annie

for April 28, 2004

 

Dear Readers,

All of this handicapped access stuff sure has made a difference in life. You really notice and appreciate things like recessed curbs when you're trying to help someone who's in a wheelchair or uses a walker. I've thanked God for the buttons on the outsides of buildings that open the door automatically while I was struggling with my little girl and her walker. Now she walks. I mean, she walks! It's a miracle, really. She's four, and she's been walking for about four months, so she's shaky and doesn't watch where she's going yet and falls down a lot. She tires very easily, but wants to do everything she can on her own. This is the first year she was able to participate in an Easter egg hunt, and it was wonderful. I just wanted to sit down on that Ron Curtis Memorial Field up at the Eatonville Eagles and cry, watching her pick up an egg. She wouldn't stand in or touch the grass, because she's so sensitive to any tactile sensations and didn't like the way the grass felt, so I had to hold her over the eggs while a friend from Mineral pointed them out to her. What I loved was the way the other kids handled the situation. My girl was in with her age group, the four to six year olds, even though she's developmentally about two and physically, just learning to walk, maybe a little over the one year level. No parents told any kids to watch out for her. They didn't need to. Those children saw that she needed help, and extra time to gather eggs, so they left the eggs around her and ran for other ones, farther afield. That was heart warming. On this beautiful day I thank God for compassionate people.

Annie

Please write to: Annie, P.O. Box 1084, Eatonville,WA 98328

E-mail: letters_annie@hotmail.com

Past Ask Annies:

Apr. 28, 2004 Blessings in a Physically Challenged Child Hunting Easter Eggs

Apr. 21, 2004 Pushy people who keep telling us, "You should..."

Apr. 14, 2004 Abusive Dad, Discourteous Telephoning

Apr. 7, 2004 Guilty About Inadequately Reciprocating to Wonderful Giving Friend

Mar. 31, 2004 Kids Selling Cookies

Mar. 24, 2004 Big Girl Wants to Avoid Brother's Fancy Wedding

Mar. 17, 2004 New Manager Getting Gifts from Subordinate?

Mar. 10, 2004 Loaned Money to Roommate

Mar. 3, 2004 Complaining about Boring Older Peoples' Talk

Feb. 25, 2004 Give Kid's Items to Food Bank

Feb. 18, 2004 Forwarded and Criticized Attachment Then Found Out It Was Written By The Sender, A Friend

Feb. 11, 2004 Messy Roommate

Feb. 4, 2004 Son a moron? No!

Jan. 28, 2004 Bad Phone Manners

Jan. 21, 2004 Avoid Church Because of Flu?

Jan. 14, 2004 Boyfriend Breakup But Gift, Also Relative Tells Private Life

Jan. 7, 2004 Master Tinseller

Dec. 24, 2003 Memories of Good Parents

Dec. 17, 2003 Christmas Gift for Wife?

Dec. 10, 2003 Thanks to Food Bank Helpers

Dec. 3, 2003 Child's Names on Belongings & Appreciating Family at Holidays

Nov. 26, 2003 Big Family Thanksgiving with Paper Plates

Nov. 19, 2003 Mom Feels Daughter Doesn't Change Baby Diaper Quickly Enough, also Donate Pet Food and Hygiene Items to Food Bank

Nov. 12, 2003 Husband Driven Nuts To Do Crafts By Wife

Nov. 5, 2003 Dreading Husband's Retirement

Oct. 29, 2003 Move back home from boyfriend's house?

Oct. 22, 2003 Did I raise my daughter to do these things?

Oct. 15, 2003 Misunderstanding about School Workers' Kindness

Oct. 8, 2003 Prayer for Brown Sisters Killed and Change Schoolyear to Oct.1 to June 30

Oct. 1, 2003 Response About Non-tipping Lotto Winner

Sept. 24, 2003 Church-goers Inattentive

Sept. 17, 2003 Friend Sells My Stuff on Ebay

Sept. 10, 2003 Lottery Winner Didn't Tip Clerk

Sept. 3, 2003 Business Insults to Consumers

Aug. 27, 2003 Divison of Wedding Expense

Aug. 20, 2003 School Workers' Kindness & Men's Attractiveness

Aug. 13, 2003 Attractiveness Hints

Aug. 6, 2003 Annie's Husband's Accident at Work

July 30, 2003 Deer Automatic Sprinkler Best & Stores Don't Stock Washington Clothes

July 23, 2003 Scarecrows and Halloween Decorations Scare Off Prowlers Too

July 16, 2003 Redhead Asks Attractiveness Advice

July 9, 2003 Camper Littering

July 2, 2002 Atomatic Deer Scarecrow Blasts Prowler

June 25, 2003 Library Newsletter Omitted Packwood Library

June 18, 2003 Thank Troops for Freedom