Learning That Different Is Just A Word

 The two angels stood behind Grandma Lu's chair as she was getting her pictures together. Of course, you couldn't see or hear them. The older of the two angels said, "You know Grandma Lu is one of the reasons I am ready to retire. I have been looking after her for years. Even when she was a child she was a handful. She kept her parents and me on our toes. She's had broken bones, been in car accidents, had a need for speed when she was a teenager that even made me cover my eyes. Now that she's an old woman, she still needs someone to look out for her. Gracious sakes she just had another broken bone not too long ago. Hopefully, you can take over for me without any trouble. She seems to be happy here at Marleewood telling her stories not just to the children but to the adults as well."

About then Marlee said, "Hi Grandma Lu! Are you going to tell a story today? What are you looking for in that box?"

"Oh I was just looking for some old pictures and pamphlets and stuff that I have in here. Boy I sure save a lot of stuff. How are you anyway? I haven't seen you for awhile." Marlee grinned and said, "I'm good." Then she looked up and said, "There come some people I haven't seen before. Who are they?" Grandma Lu grinned and said, "Oh they are friends of mine. I invited them to come to Marleewood for snacks today. "How are you folks? What have you been doing today?"

Marlee said, "Wow, you look really different! Are you dressed up for Halloween?" The children laughed and said, "No, it was 80's Day at school. Who is that in that picture you are holding, Grandma Lu? That lady sure had big hair and big glasses." Grandma Lu laughed and said, "Well, that was me in the 80''s and yes we did wear big glasses and big hair. That was right before I moved to Humansville a long long time ago."

Marlee said, "Oh you look really different than you do now."

Grandma Lu smiled and said, "Let's talk about different. What does different mean? What is different than short? Marlee said, "Tall." Grandma Lu said, "Right you are! You gave the meaning of the word opposite. Another opposite would be the opposite of happy would be sad.  We are learning all kinds of words today. Okay let's play a game. We will say a word then say something that is different." The children started to come closer to her chair. She said, "There are lots and lots of things about people that are different. Some people can't walk. Do you know what some people use to get around?" The children started talking among themselves, talking about things that they had seen people use to get around like wheelchairs, canes, and walkers. Without her even saying much of anything else, the children said, "Some people wear glasses and some don't. Some people can't hear very good so they wear hearing aids, and some people have trouble talking and writing. I have a friend that I really like; he is different than me. He has different color skin. His skin is much darker. The adults that had been in the kitchen started to listen to the children and added some of their differences; some people can play the piano and some people can play basketball and sports really well and other people can't even though they want to really bad. They need some help and some encouragement to achieve their goals."

So Grandma Lu said, "You all have the right idea. So now tell me how we are all alike."

About that time the elderly uncle and Charlotte, and a nice lady walked in. Charlotte said, "We have just been to the library. We found out all about the Special Olympics. That's one place where we are all alike. We all like to have fun and have friends. If people have a goal  (a goal is something to work towards that is really important to you) to do things like be in a race or play basketball or even ice skate, there are people there to help them at Special Olympic gyms all over the world. Everyone smiled and agreed with her that goals were important and being able to achieve too. The one thing about a goal is that you sometimes have to work really hard to achieve it."

So Grandma Lu said, "Well, tell us all about what else you learned at the library. I have some things here and some pictures and of course, a story or two to go with them. But first let's hear what all you learned for instance where and when did the Special Olympics begin? What makes it different than the Olympics for people without handicaps? Oh there's a word to learn isn't it? I think it means that it is harder for some folks to do some things than others. Does anyone have another meaning? One person said, a handicap gives you a disadvantage at some things like running if you don't have legs, or having trouble remembering things in school. Does that count?" Grandma Lu said, "It sure does. There are all kinds of handicaps aren't there?" 

 She looked at the older gentleman and said, "Don't I know you from somewhere? You look so familiar."