a long way...

"they all look the same" funny how this statement makes me cringe...first "they" has a name and is human...second..."the same" is a fallacy...yesterday we took our BIG trip to Rapid City to reptile gardens and bear country...Rapid is 4 hours from our home so it is a LONG yearly trip...but sooo worth it...I knew I was going to enjoy the day when we were visiting the giant tortoises and a man with Down Syndrome came in and joined us at our tortoise...it was the first time I did not judge...the first time I did not panic...the first time I said hi and made eye contact with him and his family...they slightly smiled at us...but then they saw Maddie and huge smiles from all of them to us...the connection was made...the instant family was born...I have learned to be comfortable with these encounters...and what screamed out at me was that he looked just like his parents...he did not look like every other man with Down Syndrome...the stereotypes get old...not 10 minutes later we went inside to see the komodo dragon and there was a sweet family with a little guy with Down Syndrome...instantly I was drawn to them...and I noticed the back of his neck...I love the back of Maddie's neck...then I heard his laugh and noticed his mannerisms...and I knew...before I even saw his face...not because he "looks the same" but he has the unique perfection of my Maddie in his bounce...I went over to them and introduced myself...this is not me...I am not one to say hi or even smile at people...I just am not social anymore...but I had to...me and Maddie walked over and the first thing I saw was how much the little guy looked like his dad...gone were the facial features of Down Syndrome...and the cute glasses that matched Maddie's...but a little boy that fell in love with my Maddie...he was so taken with her...and her with him...they smiled at each other...had a brief conversation...hugged and held hands for a minute...he joined us for the bird show...and it was comfortable...it was nice...and I did not feel like we were being looked at or judged...just families enjoying a good ol American day...last year I would have left Rapid City crying and in shock of my encounters...I would have thought the people were smiling at us because they felt sorry for us...today I just do not care...when I was getting ready for the trip and packing...I went to the store and the pregnant cashier...was taken back by Maddie...and was visibly upset by the possibility of having a child like mine...but I have to say not every family can be as lucky as ours to have a child like us...because truly we are the lucky ones to have Maddie in our lives...people who choose not to give chromosomally enhanced a chance...are the ones that "look the same"...