Thank the Lord someone knew about the Institute. I am very happy and joyful to be here. I would love to have this Earth get back to a situation where there is more loving of each other. The Institute has started to show me that loving.

In the last 47 years of my life, I feel like I have been in a cocoon. There is a wall built up around me because of (people's reactions to my disability). Since I have been with the Institute since the 20th of January, this cocoon is being blown apart, beaten down.

I am so proud of being a Dad...it's just wonderful. Both of my girls are redheads and they got it from their Dad. We both had the joy of taking care of them when they were very, very tiny. Carole would always let me do it the most because the girls knew I had a problem...their little bodies sensed that Daddy had difficulty doing things. And they would stand still or lie still. To me that is pretty amazing.

Upstairs, they have a massive cafeteria...you go down the line with flimsy trays. I'm part of this herd at noon time. I'm trying to control my crutch, trying to control my sandwich on the tray, and the BLT goes flying. The girl from the cash register picks it up and gets (me) another one. In the interim, the boss lady there (at) the cafeteria comes in and sees the BLT flying. The next day, (a supervisor in my office) gets a phone call from this woman. Basically, they wanted to keep me out of the cafeteria. I was hurt, only because that person didn't come to me directly. My parents protected me, my brothers and sisters protected me, the working environment somewhat protected me, but I still had enough sense and knowledge that I wanted to be considered a person instead of having a go-between. I wanted to confront this woman; I said to her I was sorry for the mistake but it is difficult for me to walk distances with food. I said I was really hurt that she did not come to me direct. I am a human. Talk to me.

Dunkin' Donuts has two handicap spots. Sunday morning, this young lady pulls up in the handicap spot where I am getting out, and there is absolutely no evidence that this girl is handicapped, that the car is supposed to be there. In a very polite way, a strong way, I told her what I thought about her being here and she got very upset inside. I could see that. She didn't say much but backed up and pulled her car away. Jennefer (my daughter), at nine years old, didn't say anything but gave me a thumbs up.