31 for 21: Legacy

*I've joined a blogging challenge for the month of October: Blog every day in October in honor of National Down Syndrome Awareness Month (Down syndrome is medically defined as Trisomy 21, and there are 31 days in October, hence the name 31 for 21). My posts will not necessarily be about Down syndrome, but I am writing as a person who 1) loves many people w/Down syndrome and other disabilities and 2) desires for others to be able to see what I see: remarkably unique people with much to offer to the world*

2nd to last "31 for 21" blog, and I was having trouble thinking what to write about.  Nine years ago today, my grandparents were in a fatal car accident - my grandma died that day and my grandpa a week later.  And October 30th will always, I think, sort of be about that. 

Today wasn't all that hard.  I went to the cemetery this morning, cried a little bit, and then went to work as normal.  I thought about my grandparents often, especially whenever I wrote the date on anything, but mostly it was just a pretty normal day. It was actually a really GOOD day, as far as work goes, which hasn't happened in a little while.

I asked my mom tonight if there was any history of my grandparents having worked with people with disabilities, so I could somehow work that into the blog.  No such luck.   My grandpa was a well-known radio DJ in Phoenix for several decades, and he frequently did fundraising for different organizations, including Gompers Habilitation Center, but that was the extent of his involvement.  My grandma was committed to a tutoring program with kids who needed her help, but not people with disabilities per se. 

So it's official: I'm not continuing some sort of family legacy in the work that I do.  But I do know that my grandparents contributed to the person I am today, probably in bigger ways than I know.  And that person that they poured into for 20 years before their death happens to have the privilege of pouring into 17 clients each day. I pray I'd do that well.  First and foremost, I want the Lord to be honored in the work that I do.  But today, I thought a little bit also about wanting to honor the memory of my grandparents.  I think they'd want me to work hard and well, and I wish they could see me try.