My wife and I talked about what if one of our kids was somehow retarted what we would do. I mentioned that it would be better to have a place with people who know how to handle those kids. I told my wife the amount of time spent teaching would be wasted with little to nothing to gain. (not realizing I would have never done such a thing)

We started a daycare center in Slidell, Louisiana. My wife Grace was running it. One day my wife called to say that a Doctor’s Wife had her two-year-old daughter who had Down syndrome, and no daycare center would watch her for any length of time because of her condition. I told my wife I would be there in a few minutes. I arrived, and the Doctors wife and her little girl Rosy were in the kitchen; Rosy looked up at me and threw her hands up for me to pick her up. The Doctors wife said oh my GOD, she lets no man pick her up. My attachment to the little girl was instant, and I could tell she was to me. I realized then that any kid my wife would have had would have been coming home to her dad and mom.

My wife would call me when she was busy and had Rosy wanting me to help her sometimes. I would walk in she would light up and come into my arms. I remember watching cartoons with her as she rubbed my face tenderly. The mother had some free time and would always generously tip my wife.

Years later, when I adopted my Harmony at five months old, when i was 55 years old, I felt the same love and feelings. Love of little girl, not yours, matters, not the biological connection, is just as strong as the love you can have of a wife, that has no bloodline (hopefully).

I have always had a tender heart, not to mean that I am not as hard as nails. The greatest gift is to give love when it means and gives you nothing. I wouldn’t say I like beggars on the side of the road, but I will help a man and or woman down on their luck. Love has no end, as hate is all-consuming. GOD BLESS

note; my oldest daughter was 8 or 9 so Rosy if alive would be 45 or so years old, if alive I would surely like to know.