Geeziz the time does pass quickly. I'd been on the 'Cat only a couple of years back in 2000 and Karen and I worried over whether Tristan at age 8 with many delays, MRDD, and autistic spectrum disorders, would ever ride a bike when Gervase volunteered to acquire a set we could only find in England. I had put a request for help on the 'Cat and Gervase had things happening in less than an hour! It was one more thing that in those early days proved what a special place this really was. Tristan surprised us as he often does and his bike became his best friend! Here's what he looked like back then............

Age 8 on his bike

But this thread is really about his birthday which is today, February 4.....and much to our amazement, he's 16! Karen and I talked about it all morning as we gathered things to go to his Special Ed class for a birthday surprise. Below are some other pics of him now......

Here unsure of both Bill D. AND his Old Man
Photo 160 and 161 in grocery line (with his class out and about) and #181 at his desk

Folks I just can't believe he's 16...............Karen and I couldn't be any prouder of him, He's gotten a load of life skills, can read over 200 sight words, writes out his vital information, does basic arithmetic, tells time (the old way) to 5 minute intervals......and just a million other wonderful things we feared he would never do. We worry about the day in the future when we'll both be gone but he's into a job program at school and will be going through other programs as he gets older. He starts in the laundry at the local hospital part time this month.

No words can express how Karen and I feel about him...........he's pretty amazing though and we can only hope that he continues and is as happy forever as he has always been. He has certainly taught us what "happy" really means...........

Thanks for listening and thanks to all of you that have shown such interest in Tris and help over the years, his Mudcat Aunts and Uncles......

Karen and I love you all.

Spaw, aka Tristan's Dad (even better)