Family Visits (from ‘My Brother Michael’)
This is a new section of My Brother Michael. At that time, Mike was placed in a group home as part of the plan to re-settle former residents of Willowbrook.
This is a new section of My Brother Michael. At that time, Mike was placed in a group home as part of the plan to re-settle former residents of Willowbrook.
Family snapshot of hearth on the night before Christmas.
Harry was just lying in bed. I had to plead with him to open his eyes.
Yesterday’s vintage photograph of my brother Mike* in bandages was rather dramatic. He was in the midst of one of his stereotypical gestures (elbowing himself in the chest) as I snapped the picture. But, as with most photographs, that one did not tell the whole story about Mike in his bandages. I visited Mike in […]
I began my blog in 2013 to share some of my experiences as a younger sibling of an autistic individual. Mike, my older brother, as many of you already know, is autistic, low functioning and nonverbal. It took me about a year to share my feelings, ideas, inspirations and desperations growing up: 1) in a […]
My grandson has an obsession: Big Ben. His waking hours are devoted to drawing and building models of Big Ben, tinkering with clocks, drawing clock faces and dreaming about visiting the real Big Ben in England. Here is one of William’s chalk Big Bens:
I’ve mentioned before that both my parents loved music. Dad let my older brother Mike* play on the piano and I’m sure they played classical music records all the time when he was around. For a time Mike responded. I’m told he could hum entire movements from symphonies. By the time I came on the scene, Mike […]
My father loved classical music. Once, I took a picture of him playing. I was hoping to find it. Dad enjoyed playing much more than others enjoyed listening. This is what I imagine he felt like as he was playing. I think it is better to use my memory instead of finding old snapshots.
Today, I added my self portrait to the imaginary brother I have been experimenting with for the past few days, based on inspiration from Willem de Kooning (Imaginary Brother – New Ideas, So Simple, and Yet…, Imaginary Hug, with Feeling. Tri-Cyclopean Portrait). I think I was spoiled by using oil paints on my last portrait. […]