I met a man today

I took the kids to get their haircut today and as we were leaving, there he was. He had a great smile, dark hair and in his early 30's. I saw him and just couldn't take my eyes off of him. I watched him tell the stylist what he wanted, sit in the chair and remove his glasses as the cape was draped over his shoulders. He was so confident, so sure of himself, he was kind, and he was so considerate. I took a little long to pay and let the kids look at the books in the reception area a little more, just so I could watch him.

This is the 2nd time since moving here that I have seen this kind of man. The kind that make me stop, try to watch without being noticed, and then smile back when I am caught, trying to look like I wasn't just looking.

The last time the man was blond, with blue eyes. He wore a black leather jacket with blue jeans and also had that total confidence. He was a little young, early 20's. But nevertheless took my breath away. I worked up the courage to talk with both these men and had some very memorable conversations with them.

I so desperately wanted to know how these men became the way they were, such spirit, such presence and with such character. I watched them, I remember them, and then I look at my son. And my mind wanders.

Like Anthony, both these men have Down syndrome. They seem so independent, polite, considerate, and confident. How did they get like that? How do I instill that into him, or does that come with the extra chromosome?

Unlike watching today's teen girls and young women, and then freaking myself out over what it will be like when my girls are that age. I watch men like this, like Anthony, and I feel such hope. If they, without the opportunities Anthony has in today's world, can turn out like this...what will Anthony be like? Will he walk into the hair salon and pay for his own haircut? Will he drive the grocery cart without hitting anything and buy his own milk? Will he play on a softball team, hold a job, go to dances, or have season tickets to the car races? Will he live on his own, or with us? Will he have a room-mate or a wife?

I wonder so much. Sure there is fear, with all 3 kids I have that. But since moving here, I keep running into these adults with DS and I keep having to look into the future and ponder. I look at my little boy and I can't believe how far he has come already, it makes me ask myself, what on earth could the future hold for him?

I know the future is one I can't even imagine for him yet. But I sure think about it a lot.

I hope he has that confidence, that charisma, that "little extra".

And a black leather jacket.