Guest Post By- Dennis Elton Stanley

My best friend Sheila and I work at the same health care facility. We both trust each other unconditionally, seek each other’s advice, respect, and depend on each other.

We both are Christians and like-minded on every issue. I have known her for about 20 years, and we have been best friends for many of those. So of course, I know her family as well. When I say “know” her family, I mean we talk about our families often because that is what friends do. I have met a few of her family members but had never met her brother JoeBill.

Sheila and I were going to Branson to see a Disney show production. I honestly don’t remember who suggested we invite JoeBill but he wanted to go and was invited.

I am always apprehensive about meeting family members of someone I care about. I feel like I’m on stage or being “sized up.” They (the brain doctors) say people form an opinion of you within a few seconds of meeting you for the first time. If you make a bad first impression it may take a very long time or even impossible to repair that first impression.

Like Others, I Have a Problem

The show was a week or two away, so I had plenty of time for my nerves to reach their full potential. (Yes, I know I have a problem) But the evening finally arrived along with Sheila, and JoeBill at my house.

Sheila introduced JoeBill to me and me to JoeBill, but JoeBill has a speech impediment, and I cannot understand what he is saying. Sheila, bless her heart interprets for me during the 45-minute drive to Branson.

You see, JoeBill Has Down Syndrome and I know that played a major role in my apprehension leading up to meeting him. I have noticed that most people seem to avoid others who they deem “different.” They just don’t know what to say or do, so they avoid them altogether. They are not bad people they just don’t want to say or do something wrong.

Loving The Show And JoeBill

The Disney show was on “The Branson Belle” which is an old paddlewheel showboat. You enjoy a ride around beautiful Table Rock Lake while being served a great meal and the show. I have been many times.

The show and food are always amazing, a unique experience, and I highly recommend it if you get the chance to go. We had a wonderful time of course, but what I enjoyed most was watching JoeBill. His face was lit like a Christmas tree, and he was enjoying every second. All the Disney characters, costumes, songs, music, and dialogue he absorbed like a sponge. And I’m betting he still remembers every detail.

Wow! just think about it, we have so many things going on in our minds it’s nearly impossible for us to really enjoy anything to the fullest.

I read somewhere that we have 7 different thoughts going on at the same time in our head. There are many ways I have heard the following old saying quoted, but I have shortened it to: “wherever you are, BE there.”

JoeBill is always there “entirely there.” He soaks it in, he “gets it.” He keeps it.

Un-ending Faith

You might hear JoeBill talking out loud quite a bit in his room. After an hour you might wonder, “who in the world is he talking to for so long?”

If you go closer and listen at his door, you’ll find out he is talking to God. He talks to God about anything and everything. He talks to Him just as you would if you were talking to your dad or a friend. And after all, he IS talking to his Father and absolutely the best friend he has. Below is a photo of JoeBill’s Bible.

Whatever your faith, this is the way a book should look that teaches and guides you through that faith.

JoeBill also likes coloring books and there have been many famous people who liked to color. Heavyweight boxing champ George Foreman comes to mind. He always colored before a fight. He said it calmed him down. I think we could all use something to calm us down. I plan to give that a try.

Speaking of Fighting

JoeBill absolutely loves WWE wrestling, and it is no surprise that his favorite wrestler is the 16-time world champion, “John Cena.”

We have requested and are hoping John will consent to meet JoeBill someday soon. I would give any of my possessions to see JoeBills face at that meeting. As a side note, I would not challenge JoeBill to a wrestling match because he knows all the tricks, moves, and holds. (He remembers everything) He would probably make me end up looking like a pretzel.

Independent JoeBill

JoeBill has his own room, TV, DVD player, small fridge, and other items that allow him to remain largely independent. Having Down Syndrome certainly does not keep him “down”.

He has hundreds of varying DVDs and has every western ever made. What is more, he pretty much knows them all by heart. I call this his “superpower.” And isn’t that the case with many, or all special needs people? I’m certainly no expert but I know several of these wonderful people and most excel at something.

I used to feel sorry for special needs families and wondered why and how such a tragedy could happen. I felt me and my family were the “lucky ones.”

In my own ignorance, I just could not understand why parents of a special needs person felt blessed beyond measure to have them in their life. Only after spending a little time with JoeBill did I finally understand. He is truly a gift to this earth and anyone who has the pleasure to know him.

JoeBill loves every person and every creature unconditionally as you can tell by the photo of him and his cat who he appropriately named “Tom.” When it is all said and done, he is simply living and following exactly what that rugged, old, tattered book has taught him.

Joe cat

I wish I could say the same for myself.

About Guest Author– Hi! I’m Dennis Elton Stanley- a 69-year-old widower. I Love to walk in long-distance events and I live in the Ozark Mountains, so I hike a lot. I play multiple musical instruments and love writing.

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