Windows into Phillip's World

jbloustein — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 13:09:01 -0500

Phillip is my older brother.

Usually an older sibling looks after younger ones, but all my life I have cared for my brother, who has lived away from home since he was six years old.

Phillip is severely autistic. He is able to dress himself and enjoys looking good. He is unfailingly kind, endearing and loves to be helpful and busy.

Windows into Phillip's World

jbloustein — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 13:09:01 -0500

Phillip is my older brother.

Usually an older sibling looks after younger ones, but all my life I have cared for my brother, who has lived away from home since he was six years old.

Phillip is severely autistic. He is able to dress himself and enjoys looking good. He is unfailingly kind, endearing and loves to be helpful and busy.

You Changed My Life, Peter

admin — Sun, 01 Jul 2007 12:07:00 -0500

I read the letter, my damp, trembling fingers sticking to the crisp ivory paper. It was from Columbia University. "We are pleased to inform you..." I'd been accepted to the Master of Fine Arts writing program! I was moving to New York City to pursue my dreams!

Then guilt overshadowed my excitement.

You Changed My Life, Peter

admin — Sun, 01 Jul 2007 12:07:00 -0500

Then guilt overshadowed my excitement.

You Changed My Life, Peter

admin — Sun, 01 Jul 2007 12:07:00 -0500

Then guilt overshadowed my excitement.

Sibling Support

jbloustein — Fri, 19 Feb 2010 15:01:09 -0600

Canadian freestyle skier Alexandre Bilodeau had just finished the moguls run of his life.

He dodged mounds of snow, took off from icy ramps to reach incredible heights and twisted himself in impossible ways mid-air, catapulting himself into the lead of the men’s moguls competition, securing Canada’s first ever Olympic gold won on home snow.

Robert: Trusting in God

mcherkezian — Tue, 17 Feb 2009 15:56:39 -0600

When I left Hawaii in search of the proof of God's existence, everyone thought I had lost it. I was leaving paradise, a successful company I had built and rebuilt, friends, and a great lifestyle. On top of that, I was taking Kim with me.

Deep down, I suspected my friends were right: I was nuts.

Part of me agreed with them because I really did not know what I was looking for. I did not know what "proof of God" would look like or how I would recognize it.

Robert: Trusting in God

mcherkezian — Tue, 17 Feb 2009 15:56:39 -0600

Deep down, I suspected my friends were right: I was nuts.

Part of me agreed with them because I really did not know what I was looking for. I did not know what "proof of God" would look like or how I would recognize it.

A Symphony of Angels

jbloustein — Thu, 17 Dec 2009 13:24:20 -0600

Growing up on Long Island, my sister and I loved our trips to the Milleridge Inn, a colonial restaurant surrounded by charming gift shops.

The Glass Cottage was my favorite. That’s where we first spotted the angel orchestra.

Each apple-cheeked angel was hand-carved in Germany and held a different instrument, their ivory dresses flanked by polka dot wings.

“Mom, Dad, can we have one? Please?” I chose a brunette French horn player, and my sister selected a blonde clarinetist, to match our hair colors and the instruments we played.

A Brother's Gifts

jbloustein — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 15:48:36 -0600

My big brother, Bob, I called him.

Not just because he was 14 years older, but at six-foot-three and over 200 pounds, he truly was my big brother. We were inseparable.

Just before my eighth birthday, Bob was drafted into the Army and deployed to Korea. The night he left, he slung a duffel bag over his shoulder and grabbed his guitar case. “When I come back I’ll teach you how to play,” he promised. Then Bob was gone.