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”
Category Archives: Into the Wilderness
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”
Home
Into the Wilderness: Story 15 Salt Lake City became our second home. We didn’t know it would when we woke up the next morning after arriving after midnight. We slept late and missed the perfunctory hotel breakfast. We had a big day ahead. We had to buy Catina supplies for RTC and make the mostContinue reading “Home”
In the air
Into the Wilderness: Story 14 Up in the air, Catina’s hand clenched in mine, we wondered about the future. Catina was eager to get to her RTC, though we had yet to sign an agreement with the new RTC. FAPE state law requires a 10-day notification to public school of unilateral placement. Our lawyer hadContinue reading “In the air”
Walk the Moon 