GREEN MARKER MAN

I like to draw.



I like to watch my sleeping children.


It only makes sense that I would like to draw on my sleeping children.......

It's time for the return of the GREEN MARKER MAN!

The children LOVE waking up and seeing what this crazy creature-of-the-night has drawn on them. It started with Brosden and I drawing two dots for eyes and a one-line smiley face on his sisters' toes. It grew from there.

Their mothers finally asked me to stop because once they got home the kids didn't want to wash the drawings off. But alas! Nothing can stop the madness of Marker Man! He hath returned on his childrens' final night.


Actually this "art" is much, much harder than it looks.

Bella jerks her shoulder at the tiniest attempt to make features darker.

Each darkened area you see is from one line being drawn on top of another, one at a time.






Brosden is much easier. Even his sisters' gave him a full cat-face one night. No wonder no one wants to be the first to fall asleep at Dad's house.

Last night I went for a challenge; drawing on his super ticklish feet.

Things were going well until I tried to turn his toes into a pair of jeans.

His natural reaction is to strike out when startled. I finally stopped after nearly being kicked in the face for the ump-teenth time.


It is like 'Mission Impossible" to draw on Sofia. I have to save her for last. Not only is her skin hyper-sensitive to the slightest touch, once she does waken she lures me in with those open arms, then traps me in an unbreakable hug. I become a prisoner of her love.

Her drawing was the simplest but took the longest. I had to lay flat on the floor several times while she half-awakened, paying attention to the smallest indication Marker Man was there.

And then, just as I was about take the picture, she rolled over onto her other side, covering my "masterpiece"! As I tried to roll her back over.....arms, hug, prison. Trying to take the picture with her wrapped around me proved more difficult than doing the drawing.

As Sofia now likes to imitate Brosden who likes to imitate Cosmo from "The Fairly Odd Parents"......................."Ahhhh, Good Times!"

Happy St. Patty Boy Day

Happy St. Patrick's Day everyone, and especially to Patrice Blemur.

Patrice is a student of mine who was involved in a fatal car accident in January of 2006. His mother was killed in the crash and Patrice was left in a coma. He initially wasn't supposed to be lucky enough to make it to St. Patty's Day of last year, let alone this one.

Today he is celebrating the unexpected, due to his strong desire to live, his great nurses and doctors, and the love of a father who visits him every day. It is a testimony to the POWER of BELIEF!

Last night I talked to Rob, who along with other great nurses like Teddy, Carmelita and Mam, keep me updated on Patrice's progress if I miss connecting with his dad. Fedre Blemur is an inspiration to me, going to his son's bedside every night no matter how long the day has been.

My own daughter is holding Patrice's picture for me, which I keep by my door at home. I can only hope to have the strength Patrice's father has shown, should something similar happen to one of my own children.

Last night at the party Patrice was awake and alert, which is a good sign. He's even attending school outside of his hospital unit. He still has a long way to go, and no matter what your belief systems are, I humbly ask that you simply......believe in him.

Whether it's a two-word statement "I Believe!" right now, or a letter or card, it DOES make a difference, and it DOES matter.

Thank you,

Adam

*p.s. I'm going to make a CD for him of me reading stories and doing the voices he loved (i.e. Jorgan von Jorgenson from "The Fairly Odd Parents"). Don't let your limitations stop you. I supposedly have one of the highest IQ's in the country, yet encounter things I can't yet do all the time, like burning a CD.

Step 1: "Put the blank disc in drive."

- In drive? I can't even get this thing out of park!

Just because it doesn't come easily to me it doesn't mean I can give up. All I have to do is find a seven-year-old at school who knows how to do what I don't :-). EVERYONE is smarter than I am in some way; in that, I learn of them (paraphrasing either Emerson or Whitman).


*Correspondence can be sent to:
Patrice Blemur
Unit Two
Franciscan Hospital for Children
30 Warren St.
Boston, MA 02135

**For the background story of why and how Patrice is so special to me and many others, first read "What Will You do That Will Last Forever?" by clicking here.

Then read "Patty Boy Blemur" (clicking here).

This poem is from the latter:

Patty Boy Blemur
One thing we know for sure
He gave the world his best
Now it’s time for him to rest

But he wanted me to tell ya
In fact I think he’s trying to yell it
That no dream is ever too small
No challenge is ever too tall

For it’s those who learn to DREAM BIG
And who have the courage to DO BIG
That are the ones who truly BECOME BIG

The size of your world is the size of your mind
So get to readin’, writin’ and learnin’
While you still have the time

Find out how truly special and smart you really are
Make the world a better place
SHINE BRIGHT AND BECOME A STAR

Thank you and goodbye to Orlo Vista
I will never, ever, forget ya

Goodbye Patrice. I will never forget YOU.
Mr. Stuart
Your Teacher

(March 2006)