I can't believe it: This is my 130th STORY I've done on Authorsden! I have NEVER written THIS much, even when I took Creative Writing (or other writing classes) in school over 20 years back!! (I graduated over 20 years ago from high school, back in June of 1979.)
I am surprised I have had so many ideas for my stories. Yes, a lot of my stories are fiction, and yes, a lot of my stories often feature the same characters (e.g., M'buti and Roberto Sormiento, Ronee' Reaux and Johnathon Sandusky and their family, etc.), but these are characters I created, and I am rather proud of them all (although creating M'buti was a joint effort; Karla and I BOTH created her!!). I especially enjoy writing about M'buti, Johnny, and Ronee'. They are probably my very favorite characters.
A lot of my ideas are based on my observations of other families, or my observing other kids in different types of situations; or even things I have similarly gone through myself. Like being teased in school; I was cruelly teased in school by my classmates; and 20 years later I feel the pain. This was the concept behind the story entitled "Friendship", as I went through what Johnny did, although I am NOT in a wheelchair. The ones about Ronee' are just ideas, but the pain she goes through with her arthritis is based on what my sister-in-law has gone through in her life. My sister-in-law is very sick, and she has had systemic-onset rheumatoid arthritis since she was only 12 years old; and she has had to endure many surgeries in her life (and just recently broke her wrist when she fell; this happened just Monday). She is only 76 pounds and doesn't eat anything but chocolate, Coke, or marshmallows. She must want to die...She is really suffering. She has had a lot of "flares" in her life, and they were really painful (not to mention, quite disabling) for her. (Please keep my sister-in-law in your prayers; she REALLY needs it, BAD!!!!)
Like my sister-in-law, Ronee' is a fighter in light of all she has been through, but she has her bad days, as described in the story "The Flare: When Arthritis Rears Its Ugly Head". But she is usually happy-go-lucky (as my sister-in-law USED to be; she's not so much like that anymore). Only Ronee' is a child, and got arthritis when she was even younger than my sister-in-law. (Ronee' got arthritis when she was 4 1/2, but wasn't diagnosed with JRA until she was 5.) She hasn't had any joint replacement surgeries as of yet (but those days are approaching, as she seems to be having more problems in the way of "flares").
The family I feature is based on other adoptive families I have known in my life; and I have always admired people who adopt, especially those who adopt special-needs children. Raising ANY child is hard enough, but raising special-needs children must be next to IMPOSSIBLE at times, especially if they happen to have a lot of physical or mental problems or have multiple disabilities. As I said in an earlier article, this family is a testament to these adoptive families I have known in my life. And I will continue to feature them in future stories.
M'buti is based on what I have read about the Maasai people; I have always admired the courage and the traditions surrounding these unique people of Eastern Africa. The Maasai are tall, proud, beautifully structured (thin and quite tall), and very elegant in movement; every movement they make is one of beauty and grace. I also wanted M'buti to face struggles and work her darndest to overcome them, even if it meant struggling so much, in terms of adapting to American culture and ideals or in terms of her health. But, somehow, M'buti has emerged, stronger (and braver) than ever before.
Kind of like what America went through on September 11..we may have been attacked by terroristic jerks, but we are stronger than ever before, and our bravery and courage still shines through.
Johnny is another one who defines the true meaning of courage. He is dying of a progressive neuromuscular disorder, but he is trying his best to maintain some semblence of a normal life. He is bright, funny, a natural comedian, and somewhat shy around strange people, but he is all boy, even though he is often in a wheelchair or walks on crutches. Like Ronee' and her JRA, Johnny has his bad days and his good days [when it comes to his muscular dystrophy]. He is also dealing with epilepsy and having seizures and with weakened lungs that require him to use supplimental oxygen; but he is still a very loving and very giving little boy who brings joy to others, even though it is HE who seems to need the most support and help.
Yes, people may get tired at times reading about Johnny, Ronee', or M'buti, but as I said earlier, they are my favorite characters, and I really enjoy writing about them (although finding story ideas about them are beginning to become more difficult--which is why I am writing more about the others and less about them; give them a bit of a rest!). I WILL write more about Johnny, Ronee', and M'buti, but they are like me right now: "ON VACATION!!" :)
So please bear with me as I do these stories. I may have to use my noggin more now than I used to when I first started writing these stories; but I will continue to write. To make things more interesting, I may throw in a few biographic moments, just to spice things up a little, but things I have experienced in my life!!
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Reviewed by Masarat Daud
6/28/2002
Wow, congrats hun...praying that you make it 250 soon! ;)
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