Author: Suzanne Buchko

harry potter in edgerton, wi

For the second year, the small town of Egerton, Wisconsin, organized a town-wide celebration of all things Harry Potter.  (21-23 October 2016) Kinda’ disorganized, crazy busy, lots of robes and costumes, and fun.  Julia put up with the jostling of fellow Gryffindors and dare to talk to the likes of Hagrid (a very tall and big man) and a few Mad Eye Moodies, as well as a beautiful Bellatrix and a stern Professor McGonall.

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Sitting on bleacher watching two teams battle it out on a quidditch field which sort of looks like a game of dodge ball played with multiple under inflated soccer balls which are hurled are the opposing team by player who run around with shortened broom sticks between their legs, a little boy behind us whined is extreme disappointment.  “Where is the snitch?  Why aren’t they flying?”  His mother patiently explained what happens when the real world meets fiction and then asked him, “How are you?”  He sniffled, “I guess ok.”  Ah, the curse of growing up muggle.

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research

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Hogwarts where there must have been some fearsome research librarians

At some point, push coming to shove, we all, well, at least, I revert to my core.  I take action is a way I recognize as my essential self.  So far, the work on next year’s travels has taken the form of writing to experts, explaining what I think I want, looking at websites and talking.  Last night, I followed a recommendation to CESSA, The Center on Secondary Education for Students with Autism Spectrum Disorder.  Obviously, this is a promising site, the research page listed articles with alluring titles that held the promise of needed information and ideas.   Continue reading →

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open hands

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Noxious weeds gone.

In 1851, The Whale, the English edition of Moby-Dick, was published, differing from the American edition with thousands of punctuation and spelling changes, and over 700 different wordings.  In 2003, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, the fifth book in the series, was published with 864 of similar differences between the American and British versions.  Has our understanding English improved in the last 150 years?

Joni Mitchelle’s For The Roses this morning.  Comfort music.  Not quite my first Joni but the first album that I bought when it was released.  Prior to Joni, I had been such a musical snob. I appreciated trained voices and songs that were a part of stories.  Musical stories. Oh, there were the Beatles, The Dave Clark 5 (my best friend’s favorite) and other distractions.  They were inconsequential, or so I thought. The American Musical Theater was my ‘real’ music.  And then Joni, thanks to a boyfriend, and also our newest Noble Prize winner.  I’ve been humming Dylan albums straight through all week.   Continue reading →

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of murals, tears & voting

img_4845Morning mural painting at Randall School stretch way beyond the scheduled noon ending time.  A tryptic on the retaining wall that surrounds the gym equipment that so many of us worked for so long to become a reality.  Now, five years (Really, five years?) after the ‘new’ playground equipment was assembled, there will be art behind it.

The day dawned unpromisingly gray and I was so concerned that there would be very few people to paint that I texted Kati, the organizing teacher, that we would be a little late.  When we arrived, however, there was a bevy of painters young and old applying color to the walls.  It was noisy, frantic and busy.  I held my breath as we dove into the fray.  Julia has not always been able to handle happy, noisy crowds, no matter how friendly. Continue reading →

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milwaukee weekend

img_4772Milwaukee.  The 90-mile-away city that we never visit.  But there we were for the wedding of one of Julia’s long time therapists who, years after she left Madison, we still miss.  A pretty wedding at the Milwaukee Yacht Club on a blue skied sunny fall day.  The chilly air was warmed by a sun enough to make the outdoor ceremony with dock and lake view utterly pleasant to sit through.   Although we knew no one but the bride, Julia was welcomed like a cousin. Ever generous, Michelle has for years shared Julia stories with her family, roommates and fellow marching band members.  And that eased our way into the party.  Julia exchanged news about Sonic and Mario with many willing listeners. And after dinner, Julia wanted to dance and found willing partners. Continue reading →

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educating my girl

New boots and a favorite skirt. My fashionista!

Clear, accurate and concise.  I have been trying to write a summary of Julia, strengths and weaknesses, gifts and challenges.  I am both up to the task and completely overwhelmed.  And no where near objective.  But can I be informative?

I’ve begun my search for educational alternatives for Julia for next year in earnest.  Two weeks ago, I began contacting educators, researchers and anyone who I thought might have ideas or know people with ideas about educating kids on the autism spectrum, specifically about educating Julia.  The big question is . . . better to just copy the email here: Continue reading →

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panera morning

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Public art in Milan, Italy

I sit in Panera for coffee and a bagel tapping, answering email, commenting on Facebook, setting up a few meet ups with friends.  Panera, at least this one, in the morning is a senior zone.  Couples mostly.  Of course.  In small groups of a single gender or uneven, odd numbered mixes.  Is this what substitutes for the boomer bar scene?

I am content just sitting with carbs, fat and caffeine.  Observing.  There is a woman at the next table who is not.  Not happy.  She sits alone holding onto a paper cup of hot liquid in front of her.  No book or paper or electronic device to accompany her or pass the time.  She has not planned for independence.  She is waiting.  Her fingers tap the cup.  She looks at her watch.  She looks to the door whenever it opens.  The color in her cheeks rises.  Her eyes are troubled.  She avoids looking at anyone, including me.  I would smile at her given half the chance. Continue reading →

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capturing focus

When my friend, Cindy, wrote “What’s sparking joy?” on her Blog, Yarnstead, she asked the question:  “So, how to get back to that top ten, how to recapture the focus I came back from Alaska with last year?”

Good question!  So much on my mind.  I wanted to call her for coffee and chat, I expected her to be at Saturday service at FUS but instead, days later, I write.

I know, I know. Yes, yes!  I know.  How?  And not just how to recapture the focus for sparking joy, but also, how to hold focus in the midst of whirling chaos.  How to recall and return to it when the immediate fires are put out?  How not to dissipate that wonderful energy on those immediate fire that inevitably flare up.

Yes, good question. Continue reading →

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noticing

Julia’s interpretation.
The garden.

I notice rain. Just after dawn, coming down in buckets, like cats and dogs, teaming.  Or is it teeming?  It thundered and lightened and made an awful fuss before coming down.  This rain has been in the offing for 24 hours, announcing itself over and over again with two brief showers yesterday, neither long enough to be “rain” and mounting humidity until I turned on the air in the late afternoon.  We’ve slept in the cool, manufactured air for which I am grateful. Continue reading →

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