Working in the world of disabilities has brought many wonderful times. However none has been as awesome as the experience I had yesterday...
So there I was with my young client, sitting on the train entering the city. On the outside my client looks just like everyone else. Most sales people will actually acknowledge him before they acknowledge me, which is humorous in itself as he doesn't talk. He has a cognitive disability which, to put into terms I don't like to use, makes him slow. Don't get me wrong however, he is the funniest client I have ever worked with and has a great sense of humour... you just have to pick up on it.
Anyways, we were on the train heading into the city. Myself, I was sitting across the way from him, watching him rock back and forth, looking around and randomly smiling and laughing, all of which is normal behaviour for him. As we were reaching central station this young metro guy, looked about 17 walks in-between myself and my client and stops at the door, which we are sitting next to. The kid looks at me while giggling, at first I thought he was laughing at me but then he starts to twirl his index finger around his ear then points to my client, all the while giggling.
Is this guy for real? Did he just call my client crazy??! At first I had a good laugh to myself as I just realised the predicament this kid has just put himself in. Looking up at him again, "He's actually my client." I explain. At first he had a look of disbelief on his face. That quickly changed when he realised that I wasn't joking. The look on his face was priceless. This kid realised that he had just picked on a disabled guy, who had a 6 foot 2, 110 kg metalhead as a support worker.
I stood up, because my client and myself were getting off at the same station this kid was. In that moment I couldn't help myself. I put on my "get the fuck out of my way cause I'm a fucking metalhead" face and stared him right in the eyes. The look of fear on his face is something that will stay with me forever. Imagine, if you will, there you are, staring into the eyes of a guy who stands over a foot taller than you, is 40 kgs heavier than you, wearing a lot of black and worst of all, you had just pissed him off.
He quickly turned and as soon as the doors opened, he was out and already up the stairs, meanwhile I hadn't even got my client up from his seat. All afternoon I couldn't stop laughing. Truth of the matter is that I have never hurt anyone and more over, I feel sorry for the guy. His ignorance has blinded him from looking beyond the exterior. The unfortunate fact is that one day, he or any of us could be just like my client.
Moral of this story... don't pick on disabilied kids when there is a big metalhead around. I would hate to have to kick your arse!
Keep rocking!!!
Dan
So there I was with my young client, sitting on the train entering the city. On the outside my client looks just like everyone else. Most sales people will actually acknowledge him before they acknowledge me, which is humorous in itself as he doesn't talk. He has a cognitive disability which, to put into terms I don't like to use, makes him slow. Don't get me wrong however, he is the funniest client I have ever worked with and has a great sense of humour... you just have to pick up on it.
Anyways, we were on the train heading into the city. Myself, I was sitting across the way from him, watching him rock back and forth, looking around and randomly smiling and laughing, all of which is normal behaviour for him. As we were reaching central station this young metro guy, looked about 17 walks in-between myself and my client and stops at the door, which we are sitting next to. The kid looks at me while giggling, at first I thought he was laughing at me but then he starts to twirl his index finger around his ear then points to my client, all the while giggling.
Is this guy for real? Did he just call my client crazy??! At first I had a good laugh to myself as I just realised the predicament this kid has just put himself in. Looking up at him again, "He's actually my client." I explain. At first he had a look of disbelief on his face. That quickly changed when he realised that I wasn't joking. The look on his face was priceless. This kid realised that he had just picked on a disabled guy, who had a 6 foot 2, 110 kg metalhead as a support worker.
I stood up, because my client and myself were getting off at the same station this kid was. In that moment I couldn't help myself. I put on my "get the fuck out of my way cause I'm a fucking metalhead" face and stared him right in the eyes. The look of fear on his face is something that will stay with me forever. Imagine, if you will, there you are, staring into the eyes of a guy who stands over a foot taller than you, is 40 kgs heavier than you, wearing a lot of black and worst of all, you had just pissed him off.
He quickly turned and as soon as the doors opened, he was out and already up the stairs, meanwhile I hadn't even got my client up from his seat. All afternoon I couldn't stop laughing. Truth of the matter is that I have never hurt anyone and more over, I feel sorry for the guy. His ignorance has blinded him from looking beyond the exterior. The unfortunate fact is that one day, he or any of us could be just like my client.
Moral of this story... don't pick on disabilied kids when there is a big metalhead around. I would hate to have to kick your arse!
Keep rocking!!!
Dan
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I have a few smaller pics around from a calender I got for Xmas in 2005 or something. Hot stuff!
Do you know of an old teev show called Twin Peaks? It aired here in the very early ninties. Obviously I never saw it when it was on, but I got a hold of it a few years ago. Cult classic bloody show, if you get a chance watch both 2 seasons and the movie: Fire, Walk With Me (only watch the movie after you've seen the whole series though, it's a prologue and has all the answers)
Anyway... so that phrase is from a poem from the show, which you can read here.
It holds meaning to me, but all in all, it'll just be my first tatt that I'm getting for the coolness factor
Have a great night!!