Bryanspeak

It was a masked Christmas this year. Bryan started our phone conversation with "I don't want you two to be downhearted" (yes, he used those exact words!). I said "not again"! to myself silently as Bryan went into a lengthy explanation as to why he wouldn't be with us for Christmas this year. He didn't make…

Chef Bryan, post-Covid, hard at work to bring cheer to others. It was a joyful reunion after being apart for three weeks! Bryan joined us this past weekend for his annual goodie-making day. He was so glad to be out of his apartment with newfound health and sweet freedom from his tiny domicile. This year…

Home delivery of the Thanksgiving feast to two sick Covid roommates. Thanksgiving was certainly different for Bryan this year. And for all of us. As a mom, I've always been with my son on that special day, traveling as always to Johnstown to spend the holiday with my family - Bryan's aunt and uncle and…

Baby Bryan at Early Intervention at BARC as an infant. Last Sunday I went with some of my friends to the annual fundraising luncheon for BARC. What is BARC? Well, in the olden days when Bryan was as little as pictured above, BARC stood for Bucks County Retarded Citizens. Now that the word "retarded" is…

BEFORE This post is a follow-up to the last one entitled "Hoarding". Before we had our "revelation" about stepping back from Bryan's 'room, mess, and business', we asked him if he'd be interested in a renovation of his tiny clothes closet. He was all about it! Together we trekked to the 'closet store' and sat…

Bryan going through his "work papers". Usually my posts are feel-good pieces, extoling the virtues and inspirational lessons Bryan teaches me. This one, not so much. It is uncomfortable and, yet, a necessary lesson for me and perhaps for you. Each year, Ed and I go to Bryan's apartment for the annual "purge and clean"…

Bryan with his shore appetizer selections. Not living daily with Bryan anymore, I don't see changes in him as readily as when we were living together. On our recent September trip to Avalon, I noticed lots of subtle changes from past trips together. It's a nice surprise to realize that Bryan's evolution as an adult…

Bryan and Dad taking a risk with trying the Pharaoh's Fury ride this year. As Bryan entered our car for the ride to the Middletown Grange Fair last Wednesday, he began to well up with tears. He leaned in from the back seat, grabbed my arm and cried, "Welcome home, Mom and Dad". "What's wrong,…

Bryan says goodbye to his nephew, Finn, after a week of vacation together. New bonds were formed last week as the family vacationed together in Avalon, NJ, our "Happy Place". Bryan doesn't get much time together with his nephew, Finn, so this was a special time of bonding for the two of them. With Finley…

Burgers and brewskies before the show. Knowing how much Bryan loves all things related to Arthurian legend, we thought a visit to Broadway would be just the ticket! And...it turns out we were right. Before our adventure began, Dad whipped up a hearty breakfast of a cheesy egg scramble, toast and a smoothie. As we…