IT TAKES BRAINS to light it up blue!

I have been quiet the last few months.  I was rendered quite speechless by a terrible unexpected loss in my inner circle of friends. I have thought a lot about my mortality the past few weeks and that of those closest to me. Just yesterday I had the scariest Mommy moment of mine to date...as my youngest son, Quaid, who has Autism, bolted out of a restaurant into a parking lot...I was right there.. I was watching him.. I caught him. On that day... for reasons unknown it all ended well,  I still quiver, I am eternally grateful. My husband and I have been doing some serious soul searching and reevaluation of what our days look like, I suppose that is the gift of being smacked in the face. There was a time when I thought Autism was the biggest challenge. I have learned it is but a different path, the challenge was recognizing that we ARE capable of walking within, around and through it.

Its hard for me to get motivated to light it up blue and cheerlead for Autism Awareness... I deal with this everyday and truth be told the 2nd of April sort of annoys me...why is it this conversation pertaining to a childhood epidemic is discussed only the day after April fool's? This is no joke in my life. It it with unconditional love that I embrace who my child is and advocate like a wild tiger on his behalf, but I will not concede that Autism is a gift or that he or I are "extra special" and that is why we were "chosen" for this path. While I  consider myself quite spiritual and pray to a God I believe in daily for strength and wisdom, Autism is a neurological disorder. A disorder rooted in science. While I would not trade my kid for the world, I do not wish Quaid's struggles on future children. It is in that vain that this year, a year when I listen closely to my mind and my soul about mortality, purpose and legacies big and small I register for,  It takes Brains http://www.takesbrains.org and donate my brain tissue, when I no longer need it. Perhaps someday my tissue, along with my families will shine a light on the science. That...that makes me glow on the inside.

*follow me on Instagram #JamieKaminski  to see my iphone photo a today...what started as a response to sorrow  has evolved into a necessary part of each day for me. A moment to pause as everything including my thoughts always spins too quickly.

Meet Shelby and Richard

 

So meet this sibling duo..who happen to have been champions of a baton twirling...random and awesome right? They are part of my new photography photo essay titled " 299"  I am currently working on.  Tonight I'd like to focus on Richard. We were introduced by a mutual friend. We met several times at the Thrall library in Middletown and we would discuss his personal challenges and triumphs and how Autism has impacted his life. I suppose on my own personal level this project is as close as I will come to a crystal ball. When my youngest son was diagnosed with Autism (diagnostic/billing code 299) a sea of un know swarms you like a typhoon. In my unrelenting optimism with his future I decided I needed real life education...what does Autism in your 20's look like? Now my optimism should not be confused with how fucking pissed I am that my son or any of these individuals struggle. However...this struggle has great purpose, people have purpose and photography is my way to explore this path. 

So aside form being the first male competitor to be crowned in baton twirling, Richard is an artist who spends a lot of time designing characters and has grown his internet audience. He was also recently commissioned to do some drawings as well. He is actively involved in power lifting...hence the arms lol and we hope to do a photo session at the gym. Side bar he can do a split and wanted to share that! When I asked about his struggles I witnessed first hand his disconnect between what he is saying and his volume...and we were in a library so that was tricky to say the least. His passion when speaking is exciting...but I think its fair to say he is unaware that he just may be slightly yelling. What I was slightly jealous of was that he didn't seem to care at all...that my friends IS an asset.

 

My favorite picture is this one right above... he told me he has a difficult time with sarcasm... he said his girlfriend was helping him with that and I responded..."girlfriends usually do..."  We shared a chuckle about this. His spirit gives me a lift and I appreciate the opportunity to get to know him.