He Walks Alone

This is my son, Alex, walking at William O'Brien State Park, New Year's Day. Somehow, as I looked back at him in that moment as he walked steadfastly on, alone, it summed up so much of how things are for him. Alex has special needs and he has to work so much harder than most. In this picture, as he has his head down, looking at his feet, just plodding on, it is a picture of how most days are for him. He just has to get his head down, and plod on one step at a time. He is an amazing child- though few get the priviledge to see. It is not his doing- it is theirs. He is not like 'the others'. He does not 'fit the mold'....and so many days he must simply walk alone. How sad that often people cannot see beyond the conventional, because it is they who are missing out on walking beside a unique individual who has so much to teach them of the world. He sees things we miss. He notices things we don't. He brings joy and laughter ,and it saddens me that he should so often walk alone.