Jerry and Donna

Here's Donna and Jerry from last weeks visit in case you haven't seen our photos at Flickr.

Jerry

My good friend Jerry stopped over to see us today. He is very disabled, but he manages to live on his own in his own apartment in Red Bank, NJ. He is VERY independent, and refuses to live in any kind of institutional situation. He prefers to have total control over his life and his decisions. You usually give up at least some of that in any kind of institution. He's just about the smartest person I know, but he can't get a job because his Cerebral Palsy impairs some of his muscular control and his speech. No one wants to take the time and make the effort to understand what he is saying. It takes a little patience, but he CAN be understood. People just don't want to make the effort, so he must spend most of his time alone. This really saddens me, because he's a great person and definitely worth talking to!!! Here's some nice pics I took today...
Click here

What a world!

I was reading in the newspaper recently that a group of politicians had just voted to give themselves a $13,000.00 per year pay raise. These were people who were already receiving well over $100,000 per year in salary! I guess they were finding it hard to make ends meet!!!! Poor unfortunate souls! Did they even think for one second what that kind of money could do for someone like Donna to make her life less of a constant uphill struggle. No, of course not! It would go against their religion...what seems like the only real religion in modern day society...more for ME, ME, ME! Is this how we want our tax dollars spent...to give generous raises to those who already have SO much and to ignore the needs of those who are struggling? I find it interesting that they can find money in the budget to give themselves this very generous raise, but Donna's social worker couldn't get any governmental aid for Donna so she could get a refurbished wheelchair lift for her 16 year old van. I sometimes think the American system is more geared towards helping those who are already doing "just fine, thank-you", and ignoring the very apparent needs of people like Donna and her neighbors.

Our NEW photo blog...

Click the title above to view our new photo blog on Flickr. I have posted some never before seen photos and will be adding more soon.