Hey, retard!

Growing up, people tend to be embarassed of their families, or of what they think their families do that is embarassing. For instance, my mom used to stockpile trash in her car and make me throw it away the instant I thought I was going to be cool when I would go to the movies with friends or to the mall. "Hey," she'd say, "grab this trash & throw it away on your way in." I would be horrified and embarassed.
But really, who the hell cares? why do we care so much what others think? Is that not just part of growing up, to try to find yourself and embrace who YOU are?
We mock each other, belittle each other, and call each other names. But who is it that's our REAL target? Could it be that we're taking our anger and agression for our internal flaws out on others?
Some people say that after 25, it's all downhill. Well, I'm approaching 25 this year, and I couldn't be happier about it. I'm even developing crow's feet, which I think are like scars, battle wounds that show I've been happy & have enjoyed my life.
What am I getting at w/ all this mumbo jumbo, you ask? Well, I think that the old saying "With age comes wisdom" is very true, but in what sense? Since I have come to believe in life & afterlife & lives, as in plural, I think that we do learn (from ALL of the LIVES). Some of the most important life lessons can be learned from people that we even take forgranted, people whose lives are made a mockery and "disabilities" we use to insult others. ie-calling someone a retard. These people, the ones with "disabilities" have much more to offer than you could ever imagine. They are so far ahead of us in terms of life lessons that you would be too "retarded" to even comprehend. Take note of them. Appreciate them. Most importantly, learn FROM THEM. You'd be surprised at what all you discover.

Photo: Me w/ my cousin, Larry, who is mentally retarded, but more so, my biggest inspiration.