When I was 5 I self-taught myself when to use a computer. I have loved technology ever since. It was the start of my love for computers. My dad owned a construction management business out of our basement, and he didn’t get a computer for 2 years after I took it over.
Over the years the most important part of my life was my nana. She was the bedrock and source of my life. We were so glad she was so close to us. When she was living in her condo and when she moved to Assisted Living then Finally Memory Care in the same facility. I was closer to her then my dad’s parents. She always appreciated a visit from my mom and me. She always appreciated us spending time with her. When she needed anything, we were able to help her out. She was there for me for all of my life’s biggest accomplishments.
She always welcomed a visit and always wanted to know what was new with us and we wanted to know what was new with her.
My “Sweetie” as I was known to her. Some of the memories I had with her were when I spent the night with her. We would go out for dinner. Then back to her condo for Banana Splits. I was grateful to have this special relationship with her. We shared so many memories. She was there for graduation and our confirmations. She was always there for us when we needed her. We saw her through her life’s health challenges. She survived open heart surgery. We all thought we were going to lose her. But she always bounced back.
We were lucky to have her family and friends celebrated her 80th birthday. Her family celebrated her 90th. There was one memory I can’t forget. She called my dad and I and said can you guys come over and pick me up off the floor. It was then we noticed it was time for her to sell her condo and move into assisted living. It was hard for her to make the decision to move in to assisted living. She did end up moving into assisted living in 2012. We had her assisted with her medication. She had her best friend living in the same facility. I would go have lunch with her and her friend. They were always willing to have lunch with me when I stopped by. For the last 6 years of her life her dementia was getting worse. She had good days and bad days. The week before Mother’s Day 2020 she had a stroke. Then she was comatose, and she went into life eternal at 1:15am on May 9th, 2020. In her memory she had 4 great children and 6 wonderful grandchildren. I was so lucky to have her be part of my life for 31 years. She went into life eternal 21 years after my grandpa went into life eternal from Parkinson’s in 1999. She was my sweetie, and she would want her family and friends to celebrate her life and welcome her into the everlasting arms of life eternal. “In life and death and life beyond death, we belong to god.
When I was in elementary school, I had a super wonderful Special Education teacher Sue Wycoff. We are still friends all these years later. She was one of the best teachers I had in elementary school. I spent 2 summers at Camp Avanti. It was a week-long camp for individuals with Autism. I spent the week in northern Minnesota. The counselors were specialized Autism trained. We had specialized activities like horseback riding and other specialized activities. It was a wonderful experience.
Middle school was a difficult time for me. I had some bullies trying to get money from me. So, my dad and other parents went to the school principal and had the problem under control. When I was in the 6th grade, we had an all-grade field trip to Eagle Bluff Environmental Learning Center in Southern Minnesota. My dad was a chaperone, and we all had the chance to experience a high ropes course. I was hesitant to do it, but I was encouraged by my dad and I ended up doing the ropes course. Dad was glad as well as I was that I accomplished this high rope course. It was just another one of my accomplishments.
My sister Sara has been such a wonderful sister. She has been supporter for me. When I made the decision to become deacon with my congregation of faith, she was a strong supporter through the entire process. Sara is what a sister is supposed to do is be there for her brother. She has always been my rock and salvation with all my achievements. She has always been my constant support. In 2014 I decided to get my interest in photography more seriously as I went to school to achieve a degree in photography.
Autism & Faith 1989 
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