DICK'S PAGE
I saw a child who couldn’t walk,
Sit on a horse, laugh and talk.
Then ride it through a field of daisies
And yet he could not walk unaided.
I saw a child, no legs below,
Sit on a horse, and make it go
Through woods of green
And places he had never seen
To sit and stare,
Except from a chair
I saw a child who could only crawl
Mount a horse and sit up tall.
Put it through degrees of paces
And laugh at the wonder in our faces.
I saw a child born into strife,
Take up and hold the reins of life
And that same child, I heard him say,
Thank God for showing me the way...
By John Anthony Davies...
Dick and Bill both chose to go to NDC which is a state run developmental center for the mentally and physically challenged people that is near our home. They figured the job would last maybe a few months to a year and were very excited when it lasted four years.
They would go to work at the center as a full time volunteer every day and collect their paychecks and benefits from GM every week. This was just great because Dick and I both do a lot of volunteering for the handicapped and he was actually getting paid for it.
The person they reported to was Sue, head of volunteers for the center. Sue had a week end program for the handicapped but it was her dream that they could build a barn and fill it with horses so that everyone, no matter what their age, disability or learning capacity was, could ride. And along came Dick and Bill. And it soon was their dream too.
They both knew a little about a lot of things.. like carpentry, plumbing, electrical but was a master of none.. Dick says they were wood butchers. But with the help of the library and asking their carpenter friends and the good help of subcontractors and tradesmen that worked for the center they did a very good job. I’m not saying they built the barn all by themselves but there were not very many boards they didn’t have their hands on. The guys only got paid for 40 hours a week but there is no way I could tell you how much it cost them to work for the barn. Cost in hours missed at home, costs of buying new saws, drills and whatever they needed. Wear and tear and gas for their trucks but they had a smile most of the time.
At this time I would like to say if you ever have a chance to visit a handicapped riding program please do. I never would have believed it. My son, daughter and I were side walkers for the program a long time and it was just awesome to watch the riders. We had one boy that could not sit by himself or even stand. The first time he got on the horse (with a back rider) she had to hold him up along with Dick and myself as side walkers. By the end of a month with only about a half-hour a week that child would catch himself if he went to fall. It made you want to laugh and cry at the same time and we did both. I have never before seen as many big smiles on so many people as we did on those riders.
So that is the end of my story...I bet you can’t tell I am very proud of my honey can you. But take a look at the pictures if you have the time.
I have a dream
a song to sing
to help me cope with anything
If you see the wonder
of a fairy tale
you can take the future
even if you fail
I believe in angels
something good in everything I see
I believe in angels
when I know the time is right for me
I'll cross the stream
I have a dream
I have a dream a fantasy
to help me through reality
and my destination
makes it worth the while
pushing through the darkness
still another mile
I believe in angels
something good in everything I see
I believe in angels
when I know the time is right for me
I'll cross the stream
I have a dream
I'll cross the stream
I have a dream
