I love sending cards and letters and I love receiving cards and letters. I got to thinking this past week and that might be a dangerous thing.  What I was thinking was about my sweet brother in law Carlton and how much his life has changed in the past year.

Many of you who have followed It’s Just Life know that Carlton is Chris’s younger brother who has Down Syndrome and now Alzheimer’s.  When their dad died we moved in with him for about 6 months to take care of things and allow his sister time to get a space ready for him.  I learned a lot about patience and living with people who have developmental disabilities.  But probably more importantly I learned a great deal about myself.

I learned that I don’t “get it” all.  I had not lived with a person with developmental disabilities before so little things bugged me.  Every morning when I got up if I had left anything of mine out on the table or counter it was moved.  I learned that if I was bugged about that I needed to not leave my stuff out.  Simple solution to expecting behavior to change that just wouldn’t.

My sister in law and her family have gone above and beyond in providing a home for Carlton and the decision that they could no longer provide the care that he needed was beyond difficult.  Carlton is now in a lovely facility with a private room. It was a difficult time leading up to finding a place and I wrote about it here..We visited him for the first time there earlier in June and while it was difficult to see him in a place where you have to buzz to get in and out it is where he needs to be now.

I met his neighbors, played with a resident’s dog, filled his mini fridge with his favorite Cheerwine soda from North Carolina and loved on him.  He actually told me thank you without prompting which has not happened in years.  So while I know that he is in the best place and is still able to go to work several days a week I just wish I could do something more.

Then I thought about all of my great readers who faithfully leave comments here to help support my Comments for a Cause efforts and I wondered, just wondered, if you would be interested in taking a step towards making a difference in Carlton’s life.  Just a simple card makes his day and when we visited he checked his mailbox and it gave me an idea.  Why not start a card shower for him?  Nothing crazy or expensive.  Just ask my friends to send a card.  Simple.  

If you think you would be interested just leave me a comment telling me that and I will make sure you get his address.  Cards can be anything.  He won’t care.  He loves Batman and Ohio State Buckeyes.  He loves to watch old television shows like The Golden Girls and Dynasty.  He loves chocolate chip cookies so I have a box ready to go out to him.  But most of all he loves to get mail and to fill his mailbox with a few unexpected cards from people who care enough to send a card would be fabulous.  I would love it if you wanted to share this as well with any of your friends that might like to help put a smile on his face.