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Chasing Joy

Chasing Joy

Tag Archives: Photo Gallery

soloing

17 Thursday May 2018

Posted by Suzanne Buchko in Growing a Daughter

≈ 7 Comments

Tags

education, Learning, music, Photo Gallery

DSC_9073West High School Choir concert last night.  Julia had a solo in the Freshman Choir’s rendition of Sia’s Rainbow.

There is backstory.

Julia has choir class every day.  We, the indomitable Anthony Cao and I, worked very intentionally helping Julia with appropriate choir behavior, that is, standing still, watching him and singing, not talking.  Julia and I have done a standing meditation since November to find out what her body does when it is still and lots of reminders (and lots of praise) for the other points.   Continue reading →

might as well be dancin’

02 Tuesday Jan 2018

Posted by Suzanne Buchko in Growing a Daughter, Travels with a Daughter

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

Cruise, family, Florida, Photo Gallery, travel

C31B34D9-4BAA-46A5-A5EC-1A41F0981A6DRinging in a new year in what might be considered the most classic, but for me the least characteristic way—on a crowded dance floor gyrating with a throng of strangers in party hats and noise makers to a band playing the ancient music covered by high school bands in the late 60’s (no complaints about the music. It was very delightful).  Before the parties heated up, Cheshire and I walked around an upper deck in the cool night air.  A few stars were out, we could watch the quiet dark sea and the wake made by our boat. It was my favorite part of the evening, perhaps of the cruise.  Minutes before midnight, we joined the throng dancing.  Twenty seconds before midnight we began counting down as if this was a novel experience. At midnight, music played, people cheered, hugged and kissed, balloons, streamers and confetti fell from 10 floors above. In a minute, we we stood knee deep in balloons and streamers. It was almost strangely satisfying. It was as I had always imagined. Continue reading →

cruise day 3 – a day at sea

31 Sunday Dec 2017

Posted by Suzanne Buchko in Growing a Daughter, Travels with a Daughter

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

Cruise, family, Florida, Photo Gallery, travel

We embarked on Thursday. Our hotel was less than 1.5 miles from the dock and so we arrived by foot, each of us with back pack and pulling our carry on bag. Once again, Autism on the Seas met us at the first check in point and moved us through lines and crowds. There is something wonderfully familiar and comfortable about this cruise. The ship is not configured in the same way but most of the same elements are there, the mental maps are so much easier.  Julia and I were at ease much sooner and we were able to clue Cheshire in.

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It is great having Cheshire with us. A second person to interact with and boss Julia around, a lovely companion for me to enjoy. Last cruise, julia and I had a wheel chair accessible cabin. We booked late and some of those rooms had been released. Our cabin this time is standard and a lot narrower. We have a window and not a balcony. I miss the ability to be outside immediately and the balcony provides a few extra feet but we manage the tight space well.  I do find myself constantly straightening and putting away out stuff. Clutter happens fast.

Continue reading →

winter break travel: Tampa

27 Wednesday Dec 2017

Posted by Suzanne Buchko in Travels with a Daughter

≈ 2 Comments

Tags

family, Florida, Photo Gallery, travel

Sunrise over water- a bay?- in Tampa. Not an extraordinary feat consider how little day light there is this time of year. A hotel on the water, the convention center, cars and trucks dot the visible highways and a lone kayaker paddles across the bay. Something nicely propitious about the sighting. We are in the tourist center, our driver from last night told us. Continue reading →

eve of christmas

25 Monday Dec 2017

Posted by Suzanne Buchko in Growing a Daughter, Journaling My Days, Travels with a Daughter

≈ 3 Comments

Tags

Cruise, family, home, Photo Gallery, travel

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Lighting the first night of Chanukah.

A reminder pops up on my laptop from Calendar: Christmas Eve.  Obviously, Apple’s Calendar is not able to look around this house.  Yet.  Something to be grateful for in a small way.

Facebook reminds me of all those past Christmas Eve postings—parts of cards, pictures in NYC with Cheshire and Julia, silly pictures of Cheshire’s friends here to support her through rough times, pictures of Julia in full Hogwarts regalia in Florida at the Wizarding World during our Christmas with the Mahoney’s (without our favorite Mahoney’s), trees and stockings and kind Santas who listened to Julia’s sometimes incoherent rambling wish lists.  One post from December 24, 2010, offers the beginning of what has been seven years of strained celebrations:

Julia and I are bedded down in Brooklyn. We are remaking Christmas. In a few years it will be ours again. Peace and love to my facebook comrades. Hug your partners and parents and friends and kids while they are close.

Continue reading →

teen retreat

03 Tuesday Oct 2017

Posted by Suzanne Buchko in Growing a Daughter, Journaling My Days, Travels with a Daughter

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

FUS, Photo Gallery, travel

IMG_2223House in the Woods. Saturday after lunch. Sitting on the porch of the activity building, looking out at a lovely blue lake surrounded by trees not quite ready to give up their green, listening to the teens on retreat.  Julia is one of those teens.   Continue reading →

homecoming

22 Tuesday Aug 2017

Posted by Suzanne Buchko in Growing a Daughter, Travels with a Daughter

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

Camp Awesum, home, Photo Gallery, travel

 

IMG_2072Three days home and feeling a bit more human.  The end of our summer travels were crazy mainly because I fell prey to a nasty flu bug the Tuesday of our Camp Awesum week and spent the rest of the week sleeping as much as I could.  We did not get to do some of my favorite things, especially walking the labyrinth, being out on the water in some sort of boat, and doing the night hike. Julia, however, did get to indulge in most of her favorite activities and generally had a good time.
Continue reading →

camp awesum

14 Monday Aug 2017

Posted by Suzanne Buchko in Educating Julia, Growing a Daughter, Travels with a Daughter

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

Camp Awesum, Photo Gallery, travel, travel plans

IMG_6143Camp Awesum. Monday morning.

Independence. Julia wants it. I think she is ready for some. The question is always how to arrange it and keep her safe. An opportunity at camp has arisen.

There is coffee in the mornings starting at 6:30, breakfast is not until 8:30. I made it down for coffee at 7:30. Before I left the cabin, I told Julia, mostly asleep, that I would telephone her. Hopefully, she will wake up, get out of bed and start getting dressed.

I called, explained what I wanted and she wanted to meet me by the beach, dressed and ready for breakfast. T minus 15 minutes. Continue reading →

Maine

11 Friday Aug 2017

Posted by Suzanne Buchko in Growing a Daughter, Travels with a Daughter

≈ 2 Comments

Tags

friends, Maine, Photo Gallery, travel

IMG_1870After Shyla’s wedding, Julia and I hopped a quick flight to Bangor, Maine, to spend most of a week with madison friends. Stephanie and Hope have a extremely sweet cabin on a lake.  There is no electricity and the first night I was a stunned by the dark, but Julia and I soon got used to living in the light and sleeping in the dark.  Gas powers the fridge, the stove and the water heater for hot showers.  Everything else battery powered and so, needed to be thought about before turning on.  We learned a few new games, put a puzzle together in record time, explored a little bit of Maine and ate great food curtesy of Stephanie’s skills and some lovely, simple restaurants. Continue reading →

wedding

06 Sunday Aug 2017

Posted by Suzanne Buchko in Growing a Daughter, Travels with a Daughter

≈ 2 Comments

Tags

family, Jersey, Photo Gallery, travel

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My niece, Shyla, and her long time partner, Ben, married on Saturday, August 5.  They have known each other for ten years beating our family record that David and I set knowing each other for six years before we married.  It was an intimate wedding at the home she grew up in.  Her brother and his wife who now live in that house generously gave their house and lives over to wedding preparations and festivities for a week.  Julia, Cheshire and I came in early to help with the setup and decorations.

Julia had her first real manicure and pedicure. Continue reading →

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Chase Joy with Us

We are a young artist on the autism spectrum and her warrior writing mom making family and discovering the world. Home is Newton, Massachusetts in a blue house where we are spending ALL our days and nights. We’ve loved traveling together and we hope to do it again when COVID19 is a memory. Visit awhile, read and comment. Nothing like a good conversation to keep us all sane during this unexpected adventure.

Check out Julia’s art blog: https://quarantineart.wordpress.com

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Italy 2015

Pizza with procuiltto. Better than pepperoni!
Pizza with procuiltto. Better than pepperoni!
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Waiting for the taxi
Waiting for the taxi
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Duomo of Siena
Duomo of Siena
View from inside the Doge's palace.
View from inside the Doge’s palace.
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First impressions, lasting memories.
First impressions, lasting memories.

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