My Own Twist To The Famous Essay By Emily Perl Kingsley as seen at:
http://www.our-kids.org/Archives/Holland.html
I have been asked what it is like to have a child with special needs. Huh? Which one of my three are you talking about?
Let me explain it like this: It’s kind of like planning a trip to Nebraska, over and over again. You have friends who have been to all kinds of places, and you decide that Nebraska sounds the most “normal.” You don’t really want to have to deal with the smell of New Jersey, and California seems a little nutty. Texas seems like a whole ‘nother country and Oklahoma doesn’t really stand out. So Nebraska it is.
When the airplane lands, no one will tell you where you are or what you are supposed to do there. All you know is that it does not look like Nebraska. Soon you start to notice that you have come to a very busy and fast-paced place! You love being there, but sometimes you feel you simply can’t keep up. That is when you start to realize that instead of Nebraska, you have landed in New York City – the city that never sleeps and even the most minor of shows turn into huge productions.
Loving New York City, but still longing to visit Nebraska, you plan another trip. You are beside yourself with excitement as you board your plane, only to become horribly airsick the moment the plane takes off. Shortly into the flight you hit turbulence and must keep your seatbelt securely fastened at all times. When the wild ride finally ends, you happily disembark the aircraft only to find yourself in Iraq.
Iraq is unique and very different from New York City. You find that you love Iraq just as much as New York City, though in Iraq sirens seem to go off for hours on end. Others may wonder how it is that you can enjoy Iraq so much, but it is not something that can be easily explained. The stress level is high in Iraq, and the terrorist activities increase the longer you stay. Even so, Iraq is beautiful and the heat takes the bite out of the cold New York City winters.
Having found homes in two such interesting and different lands, you decide that you have traveled enough. To your consternation, you find yourself unwittingly launched through the air again on yet another aircraft. Unfortunately as you are rocketing through the clouds on this unplanned adventure, you notice that one of the engines has caught fire. When the other engine blows up rather unexpectedly, the aircraft is forced to make a rough emergency landing.
When you wake up in the hospital a few days later, you are informed that you now have a new home in Holland. Holland? After spending so much time in New York City and Iraq, how ever will you survive Holland? Not only have you inadvertently found yourself in Holland, but it seems one of the sea walls has sprung a leak and the land may be quickly reclaimed by the sea.
Suddenly you realize that you would do anything in the world to save Holland. Holland has won your heart just as New York City and Iraq had. Holland is totally different, but more beautiful than you ever imagined. For sixteen weeks you travel between New York City, Iraq and Holland while Holland recovers. When you are finally able to have a summit with the heads of the three areas, you find the most extraordinary thing!
Amazingly, New York City has slowed down just a touch to smell the beautiful Tulips and enjoy the windmills. Iraq, though it continues its terrorist activities toward your home-land, has become a protectorate of Holland and has threatened to annihilate those who would endanger the welfare of this quiet land.
Slowly you realize that the saying is true: All things happen for a reason. These three very different lands have somehow worked to reinstate a balance in your universe. I have also been told that “The Lord never gives you more than you can handle.” Sheesh! The Lord sure must think highly of me!
New York City, with its ADHD ways, now seems more special for its pace and creativity. Holland makes you smile each and every day and helps you to notice the beauty in all the small things. Iraq is still oppositional, defiant, disorderly and intent on taking over the world someday, but with the influence of Holland, perhaps it will rule with a kinder and gentler hand. (One can only hope!)
Is it difficult to live in Holland? Are you kidding? Compared to Iraq, Holland is like heaven! Did we ever make it to Nebraska?
Nebraska? Where’s that?
1 comment:
Thank you thank you thank you!!! When I read the original essay about Holland, I thought it was wonderful that the author was able to have such a great attitude, although something about that whole thing didn't seem quite right...and sure enough! I got off the plane to find out that I had indeed not landed in Italy, but I couldn't tell if I was in Nazi Germany or Communist Russia! It's comforting to know I'm not the only one =). By the way, I'm the friend that sent Trena to your blog. As soon as I read your post about Uranus, I knew she would like you =). I'm amazed you didn't slap that person who was SOOOO tired the last 2 weeks of her pregnancy; how nice would that be if that was as bad as it got? And I personally think that "colic" is just the doctors' way of saying, "I'm sorry, I don't have the time or inclination to find out what is causing your infant to scream miserably for hours on end." I really enjoyed your blog! I think the publisher who turned you down is going to be sorry one day!
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