[alatar]

Once upon a time there was a season of my life when I was more concerned about what others thought. I would try to blend in with the rest of the world, but for some reason my camoflague never worked very well - one movement and I could be seen by all. It'd be like those schools of fish that manuever as one. I always turned the wrong way.

Seasons change, and then I found a group of people that felt just like I did - wanting to fit in, yet somehow never being able to get it right. We realized that swimming in formation wasn't really that important. These people became my friends, my Fellowship - a ragtag demographic mix, yet together because of being different. Anyway, they still thought I was weird/odd, yet they didn't shoo me away, and I've known some of them longer than some of you have existed.

More time passed, and (as alluded to before) Ms. alatar came into my life. She not only tolerated my difference, she aided and abetted it! We obviously had to marry to spare others, as if she liked me for me, then she was definitely outside of the curve too.

Another season, and I'm a father. Oblivious to all except my family, I'm no longer concerned with fish, formations and differences - silly things, now. Have exceptional children, none of which is normal in the clicky school sense, and I'm trying to allow/encourage them to be different too, as I see where it got me...

Which is here.