David Don, also known as DD or DeeDee on WordPress, saw my years-old call for guest posts on my readers’ impressions on Tourette Syndrome: Write me a story. I think in most cases I would have said “sorry, too late” But DD is truly one of my favorite bloggers. His haiku posts are interesting, cleverly crafted and frequently relevant to my life. His commentary is always thoughtful and funny. I highly recommend following his blog.

One cool thing about WordPress is that I constantly interact with people from other countries and cultures. At times, the language differences cause some confusion. In his story, DD, who lives in Melbourne, Australia references “the tip.” This is a term I’m unfamiliar with. When I googled “the tip Australia,” I was treated to a map of Cape York, the northernmost point of the Australian mainland. I emailed DD: “Ah, Ben in your story is heading to Cape York, the tip of Australia.”

“No,” said DD, “the tip in question is a rubbish tip.” A tip is a dump! Ben is going to work at the garbage dump.

DD’s story left the word freedom ringing in my brain like a bell.

~ ~ ~

Ben

Sometimes I wonder what happened to Ben. The last time I saw him, we stood together on a hill overlooking a valley at the back of Rosanna Special School. It was the end of year break-up party in 2004, and it was Ben’s last day at school.

Ben wanted to let me know that he knew where he was heading in life, and that he was going to be all right. Ben was heading for the tip where he’d won a paid job after a year of unpaid ‘work-experience.’

As we stood together on that last evening, Ben described the beauty of the hills and valleys of refuse raised and levelled by mighty machines and humble men at the tip. He talked of the wonder of discovering treasures and of the uplifting feeling of mate-ship where he now worked. He talked gracefully, with none of the tics, curses or hesitations of Tourette’s. And as he talked, he lifted his arms in a slow gesture that gradually included the whole valley below, and he uttered the grateful word “Mine.” There was no hubris, just thanks for the beauty of acceptance, at last.

I would love to think that Ben is still working at that tip twenty years on.

David Don

PS: My previous wife was a talented teacher and in a small way I supported the special school where she taught Ben and others. Ben and I always fell into easy conversation when we saw each other around the school. I don’t know why that was; I’m just glad it was that way.

Image by PDPics from Pixabay