EASTER
DARLEY AND MY SISTER
Easter--Passover is on Sunday April 14th.
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.
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.
Author Karl Wallace To
read more Karl Wallace short stores go to: karlwallaceblog.blogspot.com
