Into the Wilderness: Story 26 Raising Autism: 201 My younger daughter quit an activity she was really good at. She was the cool female drummer in a prodigy rock band put together by her music school. They were good enough to be invited to play at festivals and events- and not one of them isContinue reading “When the beat stops”
Author Archives: Cheryl Wipper
Lockdown and Lifting Off
Into the Wilderness: Story 25 Imagine spending 18 months of your life in a temporary stasis, your entire being protected by sameness and structure. Then one day, one you’ve prepared long and diligently for, your cocoon opens and you slip out into the air. You unfold your wings, allow them to dry for a fewContinue reading “Lockdown and Lifting Off”
The Long Haul
Into the Wilderness: Story 24 Residential treatment was the long haul. Months and months of separation, broken up by 5-hour flights to Utah for parents’ seminars. Delayed flights and connections during which I walked the length of every terminal in the Salt Lake City airport over and over. It’s a familiar place for RTC parents.Continue reading “The Long Haul”
Longing for Acceptance
Into the Wilderness: Story 23 By Catina Humans are pack animals. We want to be accepted into a pack at all times, because we are animals with animalistic instincts. The reason why everyone wants a family is because that is a pack that they will be a part of. Friends are a pack you WANTContinue reading “Longing for Acceptance”
Baking
Into the Wilderness: Story 22 I’ve been baking cookies. Nine different kinds, to be exact. Snickerdoodles, Linzer tarts, pumpkin bars, fruitcake cookies, chocolate mint crunch, kourabiedes (a Greek version of snowball cookies), molasses, magic bars (condensed milk, coconut, chocolate chips), and Christmas Crack. I have only four people in my house and nine in myContinue reading “Baking”
You’ll Be Okay
Into the Wilderness: Story 20 I held a cup of ice chips in my hand, spooning each glistening piece into my mouth to melt slowly. On the television, Tom the Turkey, the Macy’s Parade mascot, floated by. Chuck lounged in a stiff recliner next to my bed. It was Thanksgiving 2018, and I was waitingContinue reading “You’ll Be Okay”
The Pack
Into the Wilderness: Story 19 In front of me: Catina’s huge backpack from wilderness. It sprawled across my garage cement like a corpse. With pandemic lockdowns and limited socializing, I had cleaned and sorted almost every inch of my house. Now, I had turned to the garage, my husband hauling the pack from the storageContinue reading “The Pack”
The spiral
Into the Wilderness: Story 18 Catina went to La Europa Academy, a residential treatment center in Murray, Utah, that uses the arts as an integral part of healing. I never regretted my choice. With Catina’s talent for music and art, this was an ideal fit. Not only did she receive almost nine hours of therapyContinue reading “The spiral”
No Drama
Into the Wilderness: Story 17 Catina flung the car door open and collapsed onto the seat. School had just finished and the late afternoon light slashed through the windows and across her face. She wrapped her arms around her and scrunched down, lifting her feet onto the dashboard. She was clearly unhappy. I waited. InContinue reading “No Drama”
August
Into the Wilderness: Story 16 The hot summer days hovered over me compressing my thoughts in a clotted knot. This is not two years ago, but just last month. August is usually a celebration time for us. My birthday is early in the month followed a week later by Chuck’s and my anniversary. We usuallyContinue reading “August”
Walk the Moon 