I do not wish to write a book series. I have far too many names and
diverse characters who reside within my crazy never-shuts-down head for just
one. Far too many. Plus my God-given talents expand much broader than
writing a book series. –-Raelyn
Blogging Friends…. This above quotation was something that I wrote several years
ago. I saw it on the very bottom of ‘Minuscule is good!’ yesterday, and I
laughed inside. Why? Because I had forgotten all about this vow to myself. And
here I am—today—working hard on Fictional Story Number Thirty-Seven…. Which
just so happens to be Part Three in my first ‘official’ intentional book series!! Why?
Because I fell in love with my characters, Ellington and Elizabeth!! Well…. This
will also be—if I can control it—my very last book series!! Why? Because—as I
expressed above—I possess a crazy never-shuts-down head!! And to quote Bob
Dylan from his song, ‘Maggie’s Farm’…. I
got a head full of ideas that are drivin’ me insane…. While writing this
particular fictional story? That line reflected exactly
how I’d frequently felt—as several different potential fictional stories simultaneously spoke to me—I got a head full of ideas that are drivin’ me insane…. This is also my second version of 'Daredevil Trapeze Artists', because, apparently, the first version—which was written in longhand—sucked!! Well!! This is what happens when I let Little Miss Perfectionist run amok…. ‘Stay hard, stay hungry, stay alive’, Raelyn
how I’d frequently felt—as several different potential fictional stories simultaneously spoke to me—I got a head full of ideas that are drivin’ me insane…. This is also my second version of 'Daredevil Trapeze Artists', because, apparently, the first version—which was written in longhand—sucked!! Well!! This is what happens when I let Little Miss Perfectionist run amok…. ‘Stay hard, stay hungry, stay alive’, Raelyn
“Daredevil Trapeze Artists”
Children are a blessing, not burdens. That is exactly what Ellington
and his lovely wife, Elizabeth, firmly believe. Now, many, many, many happy,
positive, Life-changing events have occurred in their existence since they met
during the unlikely circumstances of
when she served as a police detective—who found his late first love, Lucia’s
corpse—drowned in Rocky River’s scenic, yet freezing cold rushing waters. Lucia
had committed suicide there over twenty years ago.
Since then, Ellington and Elizabeth got married at Three Wooden
Crosses Church!! It was there where they became born-again Christians!!
Elizabeth resigned from her career as a police detective. Together, they have
created twelve beautiful children—who rage from age twenty-two to two years
old—Eleanor-Lucia, Ellis, Eliora, Eldridge, Eleena, Eldon, Electra, Elliot,
Ellen, Elmo, plus fraternal twins, Elvis and Elvira!! Elizabeth has obviously
had her hands plenty full as their ‘non-working’ homeschooling Mother and
Ellington’s wife!!
“Mom, Dad,” said Eleanor-Lucia—age twenty-two—one day during a visit
to Ellington and Elizabeth’s house, “Everybody…. I have met somebody!! I think I’m in
love!!”
“Really?!” said Elizabeth,
“Oh, Eleanor-Lucia!!”
“What is his name?” asked
Ellington.
“Zimmerman,” answered Eleanor-Lucia.
She smiled.
“But I call him ‘Zimmy’!!” said Eleanor-Lucia.
“What?!” Ellen—age
six—said matter-of-factly, “‘Zimmerman’?!
You mean his name does not start with
an ‘El’ like the rest of our family?!”
“Nope!!” said
Eleanor-Lucia, “Zimmy and I are going to break
the mold with our relationship!!”
“That is stupid!!”
protested Ellen in a bossy fashion, “Why would you want to ‘break the mold’?”
“Be nice, Ellen!!” said
Elizabeth.
“Is your relationship with
Zimmerman as serious as you are making it sound, Eleanor-Lucia?” asked Ellington.
“Yes!!” said
Eleanor-Lucia, “Zimmy and I are absolutely
inseparable!! We’re together every
single day!!”
“That is so sweet!!”
Eleena—age fourteen—who is Ellington’s and Elizabeth’s young, Hallmark film-watching,
love story-reading romantic of a daughter, “How did you two meet? Tell us!! I want to know!!”
“We met at church!!” said Eleanor-Lucia, “You may—or may not—have seen him
there, Mom and Dad!! But, who knows,
because Three Wooden Crosses is a huge
congregation with practically hundreds
of people!!”
“What does Zimmerman look
like?” asked Elizabeth, “Describe
him, Eleanor-Lucia and maybe—just maybe—I
will be able to picture the guy in my head!!”
“Zimmy has curly brunette hair and distinctive beautiful blue eyes!!” gushed Eleanor-Lucia.
“Wow!!” exclaimed
Eliora—age eighteen—who is a practical thinker, “Zimmerman has brunette hair and blue eyes?! That is seemingly unusual!! Brunette-haired people normally—but not always, obviously—have
brown eyes!!”
“I know!!” said
Eleanor-Lucia.
Elizabeth shook her head in bewilderment.
“No, I haven’t a clue who
Zimmerman is!!” said Elizabeth.
“Neither do I!!” said Ellington.
“Let Eleanor-Lucia finish the
story!!” said Ellen.
“Yeah!!” agreed Eleena,
“Eleanor-Lucia has not even gotten to the romantic
part, yet!!”
Eleanor-Lucia laughed.
“Anyway, I was talking to
my best girlfriend, Lorraine, on Wednesday night, when she
said something absolutely hilarious,”
continued Eleanor-Lucia, “So I laughed
out loud!! And then Zimmy said that he immediately
thought, Who is that? Where did her laugh
come from? Ah, she is ‘the one’!! And….”
Eleanor-Lucia smiled.
“'The
rest is history', as
they say!!” Eleanor-Lucia finished.
“Awwww….” sighed Eleena,
“Are you and Zimmerman going to get
married?!”
“I hope so,” said
Eleanor-Lucia, with a smile written on her face, “Someday…. But Zimmy has not even asked me to marry him yet!!
We are still in our dating season of Life!!”
“If you and Zimmerman get
married, then you’ll leave our family….”
whined Elliot—age eight—who is a sensitive soul.
“Do not get ahead of yourself, Elliot!!” Eliora
chimed in, “Like Eleanor-Lucia said, Zimmerman hasn’t even proposed to
her yet!!”
“And I do not even live here
anymore, remember Elliot?”
Eleanor-Lucia gently said, “I am trying
to live my own independent Life as an
adult!! But I still visit you all
frequently…. Right, Elliot? I am here today… Right, Elliot?”
“Yeah….” said Elliot.
“Well, that will not change when Zimmy asks me to marry him, alright, Elliot?” said
Eleanor-Lucia.
“Do you promise,
Eleanor-Lucia?” asked Elliot.
She smiled reassuringly.
“I promise!!” said
Eleanor-Lucia.
“Is this Zimmerman guy a nice man?” asked Electra—age ten—who is cautious,
“We do not even know him!! Does he
like big families? Because we definitely have one!! Does he like kids? Oh, what if Zimmerman hates us?!”
“Zimmy is a nice guy!!”
gushed Eleanor-Lucia, “He’s wonderful,
he’s humble, he’s kind!! Do not worry…. Zimmy serves
in Three Wooden Crosses Church’s kindergarten
Sunday school class every single week….
He is great with kids!! And his classroom has, like, fifteen or twenty children…. That is
obviously way more than this family’s clan!! Zimmy will absolutely love you all!! I promise!!”
“Do you and Zimmerman kiss
each other?” Elmo—age four—said in a childish, immature fashion, “Ewwww!! You can catch cooties from Zimmerman!!”
“Wait. What?!” said
Elizabeth, with surprise and shock in his voice, “Where did you hear the word ‘cooties’, Elmo?”
“From me!!” Eldridge—age
twelve—confessed matter-of-factly, “Because I
say that girls have cooties all the time!!”
“So do boys!!” teased
Eleanor-Lucia with a cockeyed smirk written on her face, “That is why Zimmy and I have decided to wait until
marriage before we kiss each other!! Why? Because you cannot catch cooties from your husband
or wife!!”
Everybody laughed at Eleanor-Lucia’s witty sense of humor.
“I think that saving your very first kiss for marriage is so romantic,
Eleanor-Lucia!!” sighed Eleena, “I mean…. Because nobody does that
anymore!! Not in books, not in movies, not even in real Life!!”
“I know!!” agreed Eleanor-Lucia
with a smile written on her face, “Which is exactly
why Zimmy and I are waiting until
marriage for our first kiss!!”
Eleanor-Lucia smiled a cockeyed smirk at Ellen.
“Zimmy and I are going to break
the mold and exempt all of society’s
clichés if possible!!” said Eleanor-Lucia.
“Alright!!” exclaimed
Elizabeth on a whim, “We have now
all heard an awful lot about Zimmerman!! Would he like to meet our big, crazy, insane, wild, rambunctious, yet beautiful family?”
“Yes!!” replied
Eleanor-Lucia, “Zimmy would absolutely
love to meet this clan!!”
“Wait. What?!” said
Eliora, “You do not even need to text or call Zimmerman
and ask his permission first,
Eleanor-Lucia?”
“Nope!!” said
Eleanor-Lucia, “Zimmy and I have talked
about him meeting this clan!! I’ve
told Zimmy all about you!! Besides, Zimmy goes
with the flow real well!!”
“Good!!” said Eldridge—age
sixteen—who is sarcastic, “You know
what that means, right, everybody?
Zimmerman will fit perfectly into this clan!! Because what is
our longstanding family motto?”
“Go with the flow!!” said
everyone in unison, except for twins Elvis and Elvira—age two—because they are
bashful.
“Can Zimmerman come over here—at
our house—this upcoming Saturday evening for dinner
and dessert, Eleanor-Lucia?” asked Elizabeth, “You do not need to bring anything!!”
“Just Zimmerman!!” said
Eleena, with a grin written on her face.
“Yes, yes….” said Elizabeth, “I will cook and bake everything!!”
“And I’ll help you, Mom!!”
volunteered Eliora, “Because you cannot
possibly cook and bake a huge meal
for fifteen people without some extra hands!! I will drive here early
from my house!!”
“I’ll help you cook and bake, as well, Mom!!” offered Eleena.
“Me too!!” said Electra.
“I cannot cook or bake, Mom!!” said Ellen, “Because somebody needs to teach me
how!! But I will set the table!!”
“Thank-you, girls!!” said
Elizabeth, “I will appreciate that!!
See, Eleanor-Lucia? I have a lot of help!!”
“Alright!!” said
Eleanor-Lucia, “Zimmy and I will arrive
here at 5:00!! No earlier, no
later!! Is that time alright for you,
Mom and Dad?”
“Yes!!” said Ellington.
“I am so glad that you
and Zimmerman can come on Saturday!!”
exclaimed Elizabeth, “We all look
forward to meeting him!!”
“I have a valid question!!”
said Eliora, “Does Zimmerman have any food
allergies or issues that we should know
about? Is he vegan, gluten-free, or a vegetarian?”
“That is my practical Eliora!!” said Elizabeth, with
a smile written on her face, “You always
think of everything!!”
“No, Zimmy does not have
any food allergies or issues!!” said
Eleanor-Lucia, “He isn’t even on a diet!! Thanks for asking, Eliora!! Just cook and bake whatever you want, Mom!!”
“But Saturday is pizza night!!” said Ellen, “Remember, Eleanor-Lucia? Mom always bakes cheese, pepperoni, Hawaiian and cowboy pizza on Saturdays!!”
“That’s right!!” exclaimed
Eleanor-Lucia, “I miss Mom’s Saturday night pizza now that I’m no longer living here!!”
“Then why did you move away, Eleanor-Lucia?” said Ellen, “Huh? Why?
I do not blame you for missing Mom’s homemade pizza!! I would too!! Make pizza on
Saturday evening, Mom!!”
So that is exactly what Elizabeth—and the girls—did!! They made
steaming hot pizzas, creamy Caesar salad and buttery garlic/cheese bread!! For
beverages, Elizabeth offered water, strawberry lemonade, and soda pop!!
Ellington also made coffee!! For dessert, Elizabeth—and the girls—baked
homemade blonde brownies!! Eldridge—who recently obtained his driver’s licence—drove
Ellington’s ‘old’ 1970’s baby blue-painted Ford pickup truck {which once
belonged to Lucia, Ellington’s first love} toward their nearby grocery store
for vanilla ice cream!! Just like she promised, Ellen set the table…. With
plates, silverware, napkins, glasses and mugs!! Now it was time for everybody
to meet Zimmerman!!
“Wow, you really outdid yourself with tonight’s
dinner, Mom!!” exclaimed Eleanor-Lucia.
“I absolutely agree!!” said Zimmerman, his crystal
blue eyes sparkling, “Pizza. Caesar salad. Strawberry lemonade…. It feels like
we are eating out at Serito Con Amore Italian restaurant, or something!!”
“Thank-you!!” Elizabeth
humbly said.
“Mom wanted to make a good first impression with Zimmerman!!” said Eleena.
“Of course she did!!” said Eldon—age twelve—who is a
smart aleck, “Doesn’t Mom always like
to make good first impressions with
people? Well? Doesn’t she?”
“I’ll say!!” said
Zimmerman, “You certainly are making
a good first impression, Elizabeth!!”
“Thank-you!!” Elizabeth
humbly said, “But Eliora, Eleena, Electra, Ellen, Eldridge and Ellington all helped me!!”
“What do you do,
Zimmerman?” asked Ellington, “I mean…. Do you work or have a career or
have a job?”
“I absolutely hate that question!!” protested Ellis—age
twenty—who is an aspiring writer, “‘What
do you do?’ I don’t currently have
a career, or a job. Well, other than volunteering at Sir Barks A Lot Dog Shelter part time…. You know what….?
Sometimes…. I feel lost and without any purpose in Life….
Sometimes…. It feels like I don’t do
anything with my Life…. Sometimes…. I feel like a complete failure whose Life
will never, ever amount to anything….”
He blinked back vulnerable, insecure, wet, hot tears.
“But, Ellis, you are a writer!!”
encouraged Eleanor-Lucia, “I have read
your fictional stories…. They are brilliant!! Someday—in the near foreseeable future—you’ll even be an author!! Your books will
be published…. Even sold in places like Barnes
& Noble!! That definitely
counts as doing something with your Life in my book…. Ha!! No pun
intended!!”
Everybody laughed at Eleanor-Lucia’s witty sense of humor.
“Do you write, Ellis?”
asked Zimmerman.
“Yes, every single day….!!”
answered Ellis, “I have written children’s
stories.... Dramas.... Love stories.... Dark tragedies.... Comedies.... Feel-good stories.... Even poetry…. I do not exactly have any ‘genre’ that my fictional stories fall under, I just write whatever
I’m in the mood to create….!! As a rebellious artist, I absolutely hate
that word…. ‘Genre’…. It feels so limiting to my God-given
gifts, talents and abilities….!! Why do you ask, Zimmerman….?”
“Because Bob Dylan once
wrote…. ‘A
man is a success if he gets up in the morning and goes to bed at night and in
between does what he wants to do.’,” said Zimmerman, “So, Ellis.... My question is ‘do you live out this Dylan quotation’?”
“Yes….” said Ellis, “I guess I am living out
that Dylan quotation….!! Even though
my dreams, aspirations and ambitions
of being a published author isn’t happening….”
“Not
yet!!” said Zimmerman, “Never,
ever, ever, ever, ever, ever stop writing,
Ellis!!”
“Oh….” Ellis vehemently said, “I can never stop writing, Zimmerman…. Even if I do
not become a published author!!
Because writing…. Is the heart that beats a steady rhythmic beat within my chest!! Writing….
Is the blood that pulses through my veins!! Without it, I would be dead!! To me, writing is the best form of therapy!! It's healing
in every single way!! Writing is the superglue that holds me
together both emotionally and mentally!! Because, writing.... Helps keep me sane!! Writing…. Is my heart and
soul!!”
“Good!!” said Zimmerman,
“I am glad that you are passionate about writing, Ellis!!
Zimmerman looked at Ellington.
“To answer your question,” he said, “I am currently attending college. I want
to be a doctor!!”
“In what?” said Elizabeth, “Psychology?
Counseling? Therapy? You are very profound,
introspective and wise, Zimmerman!!”
“No….” said Zimmerman, with a smile
written on his face, “But thank-you, Elizabeth. I am attending medical school to become a primary care physician!!”
“Wow!!”
exclaimed Ellington, “That is an admirable
career choice, Zimmerman!! Not to mention,
it’s quite the long-term commitment!! And very
expensive!! Are you working to pay off college expenses? Or is your Mom and Dad doing it?”
“No, my parents don’t have very much money,” replied
Zimmerman, “Dad delivers morning
newspapers and Mom works as a
secretary. So.... I am currently
working twain jobs to pay for college!!”
“Wait. What?!” exclaimed Eliora, “Zimmerman,
you work two jobs, attend college, serve in Three Wooden Crosses’ kindergarten Sunday school class every single week…. And yet…. You still somehow manage to spend time with Eleanor-Lucia on a daily basis?
Yikes!! Do you even sleep?!”
Zimmerman laughed.
“No!!” he said, "I do not!!"
“Zimmy is my Superman!!” gushed Eleanor-Lucia, “He flies through Life and somehow manages to do it all!! The only
thing that can actually defeat Zimmy
is Kryptonite!!”
Everybody laughed at Eleanor-Lucia’s witty sense of humor.
“Do you take Eleanor-Lucia
out on romantic dates, Zimmerman?”
asked Eleena.
“Yes!!” answered
Zimmerman, “I have taken Ells-Bells ballroom
dancing, out to dinner, we’ve walked along the beach
together….!!”
“Awwww….” sighed Eleena.
“Well, duh!!” said
Eldridge, “What guy doesn’t take his girlfriend out on romantic dates?”
“Your Dad didn’t!!” said
Elizabeth, with a smile written on her face, “He took me out on wild, dangerous, adventurous dates!!”
“That was because we were
both skydiving, lion-petting, bungee-jumping
daredevils!!” said Ellington.
“But not anymore!!” said Elizabeth, with a contented smile written
on her face, “We aren’t leaping off of waterfalls now, huh, Ellington?”
“And why not?!” said
Ellen, “You should still be skydiving or bungee-jumping!! Besides, I
want to pet a lion!!”
“Why?”said Electra, “Do
you want to be mauled by one and die a bloody death?! No, thank-you!! That place was not Daniel
in the lion’s den!!”
“Electra!!” scolded
Elizabeth, “Ssshhh!! You will frighten your younger siblings!! Or me!!”
“But why aren’t you daredevils anymore?” pressed Ellen,
“Come on, Mom!! Tell me why not!!”
“Who says your Dad and I aren’t daredevils anymore?” said
Elizabeth as she sat while holding a clingy Elvis on one leg and a clingy
Elvira on the other, “We have twelve children under the age of three…. Right? I
say that your Dad and I are trapeze
artists!!”
Everybody laughed at Elizabeth’s witty sense of humor.
“Now, your Dad and I obviously
possess a huge responsibility as parents!!” continued Elizabeth.
She smiled a contented smile
“You know what?” said Elizabeth, “I used to serve as a police detective. But not anymore, because I ‘retired’!! Now, I am ‘sacrificing myself’—if you will—for family, not a community!!”
“Wait. What?!” exclaimed
Elmo, “You were a cop, Mom?! Really?! That is so cool!!”
Elizabeth smiled.
“And I have absolute zero regrets
about our decision to be daredevil trapeze
artists as your Mom
and Dad!!”
said Elizabeth, “Because I love you!! I do mean that!! I love being a
Mother!!”
Sometimes…. When you are truly in love, it does not take very long to realize that he or she is ‘the one’. Six short months later, Eleanor-Lucia and Zimmerman were married at Rocky River by Pastor David from Three Wooden Crosses Church!! Yes, where Ellington’s first love, Lucia, committed suicide. Yes, where Eleanor-Lucia’s Mom and Dad were engaged!! It was a small intimate wedding shared with only close family…. Eleven of whom were Eleanor-Lucia’s siblings!! Eliora, Eleena, Electra and Eleanor-Lucia’s best girlfriend, Lorraine, served as bridesmaids!! In their hands, they carried bouquets of friendly-looking daisies!! Ellis, Eldridge, Eldon and Elliot served as groomsmen!! Ellen was their flower girl and she tossed daisies in the makeshift aisle!! Elmo served as the ring bearer!! Shy, overwhelmed, timid Elvis and Elvira cuddled up on Elizabeth’s lap!! An emotional, teary, proud Ellington walked Eleanor-Lucia down the aisle toward Zimmerman!! And they each vowed…. ‘To love and to cherish, in sickness and in health, until death do {them} apart!!’
Sometimes…. When you are truly in love, it does not take very long to realize that he or she is ‘the one’. Six short months later, Eleanor-Lucia and Zimmerman were married at Rocky River by Pastor David from Three Wooden Crosses Church!! Yes, where Ellington’s first love, Lucia, committed suicide. Yes, where Eleanor-Lucia’s Mom and Dad were engaged!! It was a small intimate wedding shared with only close family…. Eleven of whom were Eleanor-Lucia’s siblings!! Eliora, Eleena, Electra and Eleanor-Lucia’s best girlfriend, Lorraine, served as bridesmaids!! In their hands, they carried bouquets of friendly-looking daisies!! Ellis, Eldridge, Eldon and Elliot served as groomsmen!! Ellen was their flower girl and she tossed daisies in the makeshift aisle!! Elmo served as the ring bearer!! Shy, overwhelmed, timid Elvis and Elvira cuddled up on Elizabeth’s lap!! An emotional, teary, proud Ellington walked Eleanor-Lucia down the aisle toward Zimmerman!! And they each vowed…. ‘To love and to cherish, in sickness and in health, until death do {them} apart!!’
Three months after that, Ellington and Elizabeth gave birth to a
baby boy named Elston—their precious surprise—who is Beautifully Unique and has
Down syndrome!! Yes, yes, Elston made baby number thirteen!! Also—just as Eleanor-Lucia and Zimmerman said he would—Ellis became a
published author….
--The End--
The end is awesome, Raelyn.
ReplyDeleteBaker's dozen - and nothing was so sweet as the extra Gummi Bear on the pink doughnut with jangles.
Adelaide….
DeleteThank-you for the comment, Friend!!
‘The end is awesome.’ Thanks!! I am glad that you liked it!! Yes, Ellington and Elizabeth did have a baker’s dozen of children!! I love it!! That is pretty ‘wild, dangerous and adventurous’, huh?! The best part about Elston is that he was a precious surprise in every single sense of those twain words…. Even to me!! Because…. Just when I thought this story was over, I decided—on a whim—to give Ellington and Elizabeth another baby!! Surprise!! ;-D
‘Nothing was so sweet as the extra Gummi Bear on the pink doughnut with jangles.’ What does that mean, Friend? You are too smart for me!! Does it mean that Ellington and Elizabeth were blessed with a Beautifully Unique baby boy who has an extra chromosome? You know…. ‘The extra Gummi Bear on the pink doughnut with jangles’? As in…. Ellington and Elizabeth were ‘the chosen few’? Explain!! ;)
PS. ‘The chosen few’?! Whoops.... I meant to write 'the LUCKY few'!! Somebody needs some chocolate!! Or coffee, which I do not drink.... Oh well, I actually like 'the chosen few' when it comes to families being blessed with babies who have Down syndrome better, anyway!! ;)
ReplyDelete"We the lucky few" does have significance in literature; military stuff and in government/public service.
Delete"Chosen few" would be more religious especially in a Judea-Christian context.
And, yes, it really is *few*. Especially in countries like France and Denmark.
One of my favourite plays is FREEDOM OF THE CITY by the late, great Brian Friel. One of the protagonists is Lily - she has 10 children. When I spoke about it in a seminar in October 2001 - I made sure to say that Declan was the beating heart of the reasons Lily fights. I wanted to make Declan visible - because there were a lot of academically inclined people in that room and we were preparing for our examinations.
First of all THE FREEDOM OF THE CITY is about terror in Londonderry in the 1970s and coloured by Bloody Sunday.
Yes, a precious surprise Elston is.
And on a second or a third reading the dialogue of the other children come through.
Again - in a play you make each character speak and you are sensitive to the dynamics. Especially a family group or another group. You flesh the characters as individuals.
As for the jangle and the doughnut - a relative works in a doughnut shop. There are many doughnuts. I happened to choose as half a dozen a doughnut of that variety. I tend to like the glaced doughnuts with the jangles - in many countries the jimmies/sprinkles have names.
It's like New York/LA pizza and how it is different from Italian pizza. And how Australians have invented / developed ham and pineapple pizza for the local conditions.
I tend to be very purposeful about new babies when I write. This became even more important when I would play the Sims 2 and 3 around 2009-14 before the fourth Sims came out.
Adelaide….
DeleteThank-you for the reply, Friend!!
‘The Lucky Few’ is a phrase amongst Online Down syndrome communities. Believe it or not…. It is actually a hashtag!! { #theluckyfew }!! Instagram, Blogs, Twitter…. If you were blessed with a child who has Down syndrome, then you’re ‘The Lucky Few’!! It is also a book written by Heather Avis…. Which I have not read…. Titled ‘The Lucky Few’!! However. I still like ‘The CHOSEN Few’ better!! Because families—such as Ellington and Elizabeth—who were blessed with a child who has Down syndrome were, in fact, CHOSEN…. By God!! I know that our family most certainly was chosen with my brother, Michael!! ;)
‘Chosen few would be more religious especially in a Judea-Christian context.’ Well, I am a church attending, Bible-learned, Christian…. Who also just so happens to know an awful lot about Judaism!! ;-D
‘Yes, a precious surprise Elston is.’ Exactly!! ;)
‘As for the jangle and the doughnut - a relative works in a doughnut shop. There are many doughnuts. I happened to choose as half a dozen a doughnut of that variety. I tend to like the glaced doughnuts with the jangles - in many countries the jimmies/sprinkles have names.’ Way to tempt this girl’s sweet tooth…. Now I want a doughnut!! Ha!! ;-D