I really enjoyed reading The Boys Next Door, it's really enlightening. AS I read the story I just sat and thought about the characters and what they have to face or go through on a daily basis to live a normal life. The story took a whole new outlook when I went on the trip to AFI today. Just being amongst men and women who are just like the characters in the story made the story all the more real.
In the story you have the characters who don't really realize that anything is wrong with them they just live life the way that they know how to live life. It was the same for those over at AFI. Even though they have what we classify as developmental delays they still strive to live a fulfilled life just the way that we do. Whether it is working at the snack bar, running for a committee, learning job skills, or just coming everyday to hang out with their friends, their lives are meaningful to them just as going to school, working, or hanging out with our friends are meaningful to us. Though we have our differences, we are still very much the same.
I actually have an aunt who is in a group home and has been there for quite some time. The last time I saw her was a t my grandmother's funeral and I remember her saying "Don't cry she is in a better place, it's going to be alright." Ironically enough I already knew that but others around may have thought she was just talking but even though she does not operate on the same capacity as the average person did not make her any less of a person. She tapped into things that the "average person" that day could not realize.
That is really interesting about your aunt and a really touching story about the funeral. i enjoyed reading your blog and I give the best wished to your aunt!
ReplyDeleteRealizing that they are people just like us is a big obsticale for our society I think. People want to put them in a category aside from ourselves but the truth is that they have feelings like us, they get hungry like us, they have friends and family like us and we need to view them as any other person we would interact with. Sometimes it's hard to do this though because we may not have that much interaction with people with handicaps so sometimes it makes us anxious to be around them, which is why I think at some point everyone should volunteer at a place like AFI. It just puts perspective on life and gives you a better understanding of their world.
ReplyDeleteI loved what you shared with us about your aunt. This was so interesting to me because it was definitely something that I took away from the play. So often we judge those who are different than us, but typically they have amazing insight.
ReplyDeleteI think sharing about your aunt gives a more opening awareness to situations like that. Awesome post!
ReplyDeleteI also enjoyed reading The Boys Next Door. I felt like I had a special connection to this play because of a friend of mine. My neighbor and friend (Joe) is mentally handicapped. He lives with his parents and will never be able to live on his own. I have known Joe for over eleven years of my life. I have envited him to my house, gone out to dinner with, stayed with him with his parents would need a night out, and just been there for him. He is a good friend of mine and I feel that he has given me a special connection to this play.
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