Out the gate - it's almost 2008

This is the cover for 2008's Down Syndrome calendar that I am working on this long weekend. This is the eighth calendar I have compiled and I must say it is an absloute pleasure and joy I have to share and do annually. I get around 100-200 pictures every year from parents, grand parents and friends who want to share pictures of people in their lives with Down Syndrome. Then I compile them and combine the calendar and do the graphics. All up it takes about 40-50 hours I do over a few days or in the current case, weeks. When I first started doing the calendars I was so vocal about supporting this venture as a way of raising funds for Down Syndrome NSW, but more importantly it could, and has indeed become a vehicle to assist community awareness of people with Down Syndrome and portray these wonderful people in a way that highlights the fact that they are intrinsic members of society. When you see all the images contained within the 30 odd pages, you can't help but get a sense of appreciation and joy of the people and the diversity of activity they are involved with. The great joy for me is seeing these faces grow each and every year. I occassionaly meet some of the people throughout the course of a year and I am warmed by their presence. I have had a few people even say to me how much they appreciate the calendar. Some parents and loved ones even write me letters expressing their joy at receiving the calendars. There are few things in my life that bring me such joy and warmth as doing this for people I only know largely by their pictures, but yet have an attachment and affinity for.

I am amazed at the ceaseless work that Down Syndrome NSW do for people. The organisation was started by a group of parents who saw a need to come together and form a body that could lobby for basic rights and understanding for people of all ages with Down Syndrome ( I am simplifying here for the purpose of explanation). The Calendars go all over this country and a few even make it overseas. Universally, people love the calendars. there are a couple of people in far west NSW who order, sell and give away 250 calendars each! it is an incredibly humbling thing to have anything I create be so appreciated by so many. I just thought I would share the cover with you. If any may wish to order a calendar or make a donation - NOT that I am soliciting for any, do not contact me at all, just copy and paste the link below in your browser and contact DS NSW on the order form from the link.

http://www.dsansw.org.au/index.php?pg=109

It is a beautiful day today, I am grateful to be alive. Even with all the joy, pain, accomplishment and hope that each day holds in various measures for me.