“shirt, rah, shirt.”

One of Daniel’s favorite activities is going to sonic and getting  a blue slushy. I picked him up from school one day when he was about 10 years old and took him to get a slushy, then we went back to my house. Spoon and slushy in hand we are walking up the driveway when he spills a little on himself and say “shit.” I say, “Daniel! Did you just say shit?”(we were not even allowed to say butt or fart growing up so there is now way he is going to get away with the “s” word!) and he says (while patting/rubbing the spot on his shirt) “shirt, rah, shirt.”

I remember thinking that he is just so much smarter and quicker than we even realize!

“You. Me. Chick Fil A. Friday”

The youngest of seven, Daniel has had some opportunities that even I did not! One my of my favorite stories revolves around a party he went to with our brother David who, at the time, was a junior in high school. David recounts the story, describing the typical high school scene and then explaining how Daniel points to the most beautiful girl in the school and say “date.” Daniel asked David to ask the girl on a date and David say “no way! If you want to go out with her you have to ask her!” They go back and forth for a little while and finally Daniel realizes he will have to be his own wing man. He drops to the floor, crawls behind a sofa and approaches the girl, stands up, taps on her back and says “you. me. Chick Fil A. Friday.” Her response, an emphatic yes!

(and if you are wondering, they did go to Chick Fil A. On Friday. David was the chauffeur).

“Mom, you a baby.”

I remember walking into the kitchen and seeing my mom on her knees so she would be on Daniel’s level, trying so hard to understand what he was saying. I can imagine that is one of the most challenging and hard parts about being a parent: not understanding the desire or need of your child, but for parents of a child with Down syndrome this is a challenge that extends past the toddler years, when most typical children are learning to speak and communicate clearly and effectively. It was about to become a very emotional moment, I think the hardest thing next to being a parent must be being a sibling and see two people trying so hard to communicate without success. When my mom was almost at the breaking point Daniel looked at her and said “ah mom, you a baby” and walked off. It instantly turned into a hysterical moment. We all talked and sat there laughing as we thought about it from Daniel’s perspective: that mom, just like a baby, could not understand what he was saying!

His sweet personality had won the day again.

about us

“The most wasted of all days is one without laughter”

e e cummings

and here begins my stories of my brother with Down syndrome. Because of my brother, Daniel, a day never passes without laughter.
Although I know those who know  Daniel (and the sidekicks in his stories – friends and family) will laugh the hardest, I hope that those who don’t will at the very least appreciate the stories but I imagine you’ll fall in love with him. I will share a bit about the family so that those of you who don’t know the fam will be able to at least have a general idea of where people fit in!.

Jonny – Daniel’s best friend.

Luke “Yuke” – our big brother and the oldest sibling. 18 years older than Daniel

Donatella – “babe” Luke’s wife.

Annalisa – their daughter and Daniel’s niece. One of Daniel’s favorite people.

Luke Jr,  “baby Luke” – their son and Daniel’s nephew

Lisa “Yeesa” – second child, oldest sister.

Myles “Mayuhls” – Lisa’s husband who is always late.

Cameron “Camp” – their son, Daniel’s nephew. Daniel’s Buddy.

Anna “Na”  – third child, middle sister.

Sarah “Rah” – me 🙂

John “Nahn” – fifth child, second brother

David “Dayf” – sixth child, third brother

Daniel “Dan the Man”- lucky number seven!

Uncle Tom “Tuncle Tom”

Hope “Hopeeeeeee” – the dog

And last, but not least (as the greatest contributors to Daniel’s life) the ones who, without a doubt, are the reasons Daniel is the person he is today:

Steve – “my boss” our father

Teresa – “my darling” – our mother.