Passover has nothing to do with April
showers or May flowers. Passover is a Jewish holiday that marks the story of
the mass exodus of the Israelites out of Egypt. Unlike Christianity, Judaism
celebrates Passover as a beginning point for the Jewish people. Passover has a
very different message from Easter, and that message is freedom from slavery.
Easter Christianity was first introduced
on a Friday now known as Good Friday. Forty hours was the time Christ had lain
in the tomb. The observance of Easter is a Saxon word which means spring. Easter
is always the Sunday after the full moon which happens on or after March 21. By
this arrangement Easter may come as early as March 21 or as late as April 14th.
My sister Jocelyn was born in 1938 on
Easter Sunday. She met Rain Man at the American Fork Training school when they
were sixteen years old. His real name is Darley. My sister and Darley were born
more than fifty years ago, on the same day. Darley presently lives in Orem,
Utah.
Darley was popularized by Dustin Hoffman and
Tom Cruise in the movie Rain Man. Dustin often came to Orem while making the
movie. He talked with Darley, so as to be able to help make the movie realistic.
He was just a person until Dustin heard about his autistic ability to solve
math problems. Dustin, writers, producers, Tom Cruise and others made the movie
“Rain Man,” an academy awards winner. The rest is history. Darley became very
wealthy from the success of the movie. He is often on talk shows, and other public
appearances mostly to educate and raise money for autistic people. He recently
stated, “As diagnoses of autism rise, a growing number of family are grappling
with the worry and expense of finding treatment and special education for
children with the complex developmental disorder. We are pressing employers and
legislators for help. An estimated one in 110 children is diagnosed with
autism, and its prevalence is increasing for reasons that aren’t well
understood. Average medical expenditures for those with autism-spectrum
disorder exceed those without by about $5,000.00 per year.”
Unlike
the movie Darley is still in his wheel chair unable to walk. He plans to be
with Dustin for a big 50 year birth day celebration in Orem on Easter. My
sister Jocelyn Hickenlooper won’t be at the celebration as she is in heaven.
To be continued…
Author Karl Wallace 
