Texas is a BIG state
by Maurice
HOWDY, to you (the people at Easter Seals)! First of all, my beloved grandmother passed away Easter Sunday afternoon. I saw it coming, but it was a relief for my family that she got rewarded of going home to God. She lived a wonderful 86 years of her life, and I was fortunate to spend 23 years with her. She taught me a whole lot of things, in which she was an inspiration to me. She has helped me to become an independent young man, whom she adored highly. She was a great person to everyone and loved us; she’ll be missed.
On a positive note, I have been traveling for Easter Seals, which I finally had a chance to do. On the days of April 2 and 3, I traveled to San Francisco, California to visit Safeway Foods. For many years, Safeway has been a supporter and national corporate sponsor of Easter Seals (especially for autism). I was fortunate to be a part of their successful campaign and glad to help them raise money for Easter Seals.
Next, I traveled to Dallas, Texas to visit several Easter Seals sites, both in the Dallas and Fort Worth areas. I stayed in the vicinity between Dallas and Fort Worth. Although I was in those two major cities, I also been to cities such as Carrollton (where Easter Seals of Greater Dallas is), Irving (that’s where the Dallas Cowboys play football in Texas Stadium), Lubbock, Lewisville, just to name a few. I would like to say Texas is a BIG state (Alaska is larger geographically, but who cares? People rarely visit Alaska anyway). I fell in love with it when I first arrived!
I was on vacation and traveling for business at the same time; isn’t that interesting? The vacation part of this was that I was on spring break from my place of employment, which gives me the opportunity to exit the cold from Chicago. However, for the business matter, I was traveling as being the representative for Easter Seals. For those of you that may or may not know, April is Autism Awareness Month. I’ve visited some Easter Seals sites in both Dallas and Fort Worth that provide autism services and met some very nice people over there who make their work special. I was fortunate to share some of my stories of my experience with everyone in Texas.
As I prepare to continue my mission of helping others and being myself, I ask that you will pray for me for a brighter future ahead! PEACE!
Maurice Snell is sharing his story and travels as the Easter Seals 2007 Adult Representative. He’ll be providing updates from the road from time to time.
January 5th, 2008 at 7:15 pm
Why is it that we rejoice at a birth and grieve at a funeral? It is because we are not the person involved.
July 5th, 2007 at 7:32 pm
these are the gators that the health center people drive, they are like little 4 weelers. they are lots of fun to chase into the lake. that is until patty ceatches you doing it!!!
July 4th, 2007 at 7:00 pm
Kristen, that is cool! I didn’t know there is a “Gator Camp” in Texas. I know that Texas has horses, cowboys, and cattle, but I didn’t know they actually have gators too. I would love to participate in your gator camp. I hope that you keep this going with your Easter Seals location and I know you’ll change many more lives with what you do. God bless you, Kristen.
June 30th, 2007 at 11:19 am
I go to Easter seals camp sunneyside. it’s alot of fun. we get to do what’s called chase the gator when we chase the gator 4/4 and chase Patty all the way into the lake. We do that in Extreme Nature camp. I like to chase the gator. We chased it last year and it went into the lake it was rilly cool!!!!!!
April 18th, 2007 at 10:31 am
It was a true pleasure to have Maurice visit us in the great state of Texas. He did, indeed, visit with many staff, clients and volunteers while here, and not one of them could stop smiling after spending time with such a positive and uplifting individual.
Maurice also met area volunteers and supporters at Century 21 offices and at Tom Thumb (part of the Safeway family of stores.) He told his story to families affected by autism and several parents said that hearing Maurice’s story of challenge and triumph had a “profound” impact on them and their outlook for the future. Our local ABC affiliate, WFAA Chanel 8 taped a story about Maurice in one of our Centers, visiting with families and interacting one-on-one with a four-year old with autism and his mother. That story will air on Friday, April 20 during the 10:00 nightly news.
While in the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex, Maurice also had time for a little bit of fun. He went bowling one evening (one of his favoriate pastimes) and to a Texas Rangers Baseball game another evening. And although the Rangers lost, it was still a great game.
Maurice is a terrific ambassador for Easter Seals and an articulate representative of people with autism. His positive attitude and innate compassion draw people to him, allow them to hear his message, and help people focus on what’s good and right. In his TV interview, I heard Maurice respond to one of the reporter’s questions this way: “I’m more ability, than I am disability.” We certainly agree.
Maurice, “y’all” come back and see us anytime.