Autism

Art Autism Bink Cairns Death and Dying Family Love Mindfulness Parenting Spirituality Writing

Gifts and Visitations

It’s been just over a month since my dear friend and soul sister Marina died, after a quick and nasty tussle with appendiceal cancer. She visits my consciousness daily, in ways both fleeting and substantial.…

MelindaJuly 31, 2020

Autism Bink Death and Dying Family Love Meditation Mindfulness Nature Spirituality Writing

Dragonflies

Image by Rona Kline As I write this, my dear friend Marina lies dying in a lovely room inside the oldest house in an historic and pretty New Hampshire town. A wonderful woman who worked…

MelindaJune 26, 2020

Autism Bink Family Love Mindfulness Parenting Writing

Little Big Thing

“Stay in awe of life. The little things are the big things. “ ― Richie Norton “I’m cold.” Bink had just gotten up, a good hour later than she used to get up on any…

MelindaJune 13, 2020

Art Autism Bink Cats Death and Dying Love Writing

Collateral Sorrow

Art by Marina Powdermaker It’s been a time of times, a steady landslide of uncertainties. Yes, the Covid, the shutdown. Yes, Bink and so many other adults with disabilities being home all day every day…

MelindaMay 20, 2020

Autism Bink Family Love Parenting Poem Poetry Writing

The Uninvited Guests

What a time! We are seeing and hearing wide ranging effects of the Covid-19 pandemic on, it seems, every populated part of our planet. In our corner of the world, Bink's autism and accompanying dependence…

MelindaMarch 18, 2020

Autism Bink Family Love Mindfulness Nature Parenting Poem Poetry Women's Issues Writing

Harmonious Discord

This morning I walked early, mismatched garments layered to repel a cold, spitting rain. I’d pushed his baseball cap down hard over the knitted ear band I bought to share with her, which she most…

MelindaMarch 5, 2020

Autism Bink Family Love Parenting Writing

Brown Girl Hair Has Left the Building

Bink loves girl hair. For the uninitiated, this translates to long straight hair hanging down, on a female of any age. Preferably, the hair should be visible equally on the right and left sides of…

MelindaJanuary 16, 2020

Autism Bink Family Love Parenting Writing

My Daughter, the Foodie

The Pies by Bink Bink loves food. In fact, her relationship with it goes far beyond what tastes good and satisfies her hunger. She loves looking at cookbooks, finding recipes on the computer, and watching…

MelindaOctober 30, 2019

Autism Bink Family Love Parenting Poem Poetry Writing

WALKING

At twelve, thirteen, fourteen months, when most children begin to walk, or make a show of pulling their soft wobbly bodies to stand, you were content to sit and rub the carpet, watch the fibers…

MelindaAugust 12, 2019

Autism Bink Family Parenting Writing

Kind or Write?

I’ve been finding it challenging to encapsulate life with my daughter, Bink, lately. Hard to shape words for the page and even for casual conversation with friends, many of whom have their own experiences with…

MelindaJuly 16, 2019