Who is who?

No cheese for me!

All you see is my smile and my zest for life. You do not see my involuntary movements and hear my speech impediment. When people meet me in person, they either enter shell shock, become scared, or embarrassed observing all four limbs flailing in crazy directions and hearing my garbled speech. It takes time to get to know me. As much as I inform people, "If you don't understand me, ask me to repeat or to spell out my words. Cerebral Palsy is not progressive and contagious. Cerebral Palsy is brain damage." they never take time to get to know me because they are always in a rush to get nowhere. Oh well, it is their loss not mine. However, being alone all the time is just not my style...

on being understood verbally: don't know if you know, but gerry's mom (died last year)had a stroke ...maybe 15 years ago. she ultimately regained quite a lot of her physical abilities, but she always had to work on being understood. it was difficult for her that people who she was close with 'disappeared'. i think it was because (sadly) that it took some work to understand her and people got 'embarrassed'. what a stupid reason to lose a friend. anyway, gerry was always good (as your mom is) about stepping in to help bridge the gap. i remember having to work very hard to understand her. when we spoke on the phone, i got some of what you said, but missed a lot, too. it's hard. everyone's patterns are their own. - Andy McDonough

Designing web pages, learning to program in Java, strolling along various boardwalks, watching movies such as Beaches, finding people to talk to, and dancing are a few things that I enjoy. Pasta and chocolate are my favorite food. Watching gymnastics and ice skating makes me feel alive.
What am I looking for? Spinning on a friendship rose, with somebody who has the ability to admire inner beauty, would be refreshing. Only open communication, honesty, humor, trust, commitment, mutual respect, and acceptance will make our rose blossom. In other words, once we established a good E-mail communication, let's chat on the phone and arrange to meet in person. Assuming we like one another, we may begin to hang out and do fun stuff.
Since I do not know anything about you, be prepared to answer a series of questions. Just because I am physically disabled, does not give you permission to ask me questions concerning my financial circumstances! Why? Just like you, I AM A PERSON! Do not tell me that you love me, try to take advantage of me, and abandon me. This is not a friend or even puppy love. Feel free to interview me as well.