Tag Archives: autism parent
Memories of Michael: Mike “Listening” to Dad Playing the Violin (1992)
It would be nice to think that Mike was listening to Dad playing the violin. Dad loved music, and he loved his son Mike. Mike had a library of gestures that he made. We could correlate some of them with his moods. I’m pretty sure the one in this picture wasn’t related to the music […]
Memories of Michael: Mike Liked My Hat and Holding Dad’s Hand (1992)
Memories of Michael: Dad and Mike at Willowbrook Park (~1962)
Willowbrook Park was outside the grounds of Willowbrook, the institution. I remember the crunchy gravel, Mom called it ‘coke’, and the seagulls and pigeons. It was a desolate place. Most of the visitors were families of Willowbrook residents.
Memories of Michael: Dad and Mike – Piano Lesson (~1950)
Mom and Dad loved music. They listened to orchestral music and were captivated by opera. Dad would meticulously follow along in the score and the libretto was never out of arms reach. I can only imagine the wonderful times they had as a couple, listening together. “When Mike came on the scene, I never got […]
Memories of Michael: Dad Giving Mike a Push (mid 1950s)
I think this was taken by Mom in East Paterson. Dad is pushing Mike on the swing. I was a toddler when we lived there.
Memories of Michael: Dad and Mike at Willowbrook (1962)
My brother Mike went away to Willowbrook, a large mental institution (6000 residents) on Staten Island in New York State, USA. If you search for ‘Willowbrook’ and ‘atrocities’ on the internet, you will get more than 45,000 hits. The horrors were exposed in 1972 after which, New York State took actions that addressed the conditions. […]
Memories of Michael: Early Memories – Exhausted Mom (1960)
I guess Dad took this picture. I am the one on the right, Dave, my little brother is on Mom’s right, and Mike is to the far left, in the photo. Not sure why Dad only got half of him. Mom looks utterly exhausted. I think I took the picture of the three pumpkins, with […]
