When you think of the word "rose", what's the first thing that comes to mind? The majority of you would probably say a flower that comes in lots of different colors, and is pretty. For some guys out there, your answer may be, "the way I can make up for what I did wrong!" Ha ha! Sorry guys, I couldn't resist! 
Prior to the 14th of June, I also would have said that it's a pretty flower that comes in lots of colors. As of right now though, that word brings much more to mind!
Rose was a counselor at camp this year. She was there last year too, but I didn't work with her much. This year for some reason, (looking back, I think it may have been fate) we ended up spending almost all of our time together. If she was available to take care of me, she did. If she was around, it went unspoken that she could and would put me to bed every night, and get me up every morning. Through the course of this happening, we started having some very in-depth and intellectual conversations. See, she went to school for applied psychology, and as many of you know, psychology is a great passion of mine, closely followed by information technology. It was absolutely amazing to connect on that level because you would be surprised how difficult it is to find somebody who has that passion for what can be such a deep subject.
Once she learned what my routine was, and how I liked certain things done, we could hold an entire conversation about psychological approaches, and she could get me completely ready in the morning or for bed without ever having to break that conversation to ask a question about what needed to be done or what I wanted done. I was there for a week, and byt he second or third day, I was indirectly offering her a PCA job. As each day after that progressed, I started saying, "I want you to come work with me, and I'm going to get what I want!" Of course, I always said it with a smile, and only half serious, but before too long she knew that was exactly what I wanted, and I was going to do everything I could to make it happen! It wasn't too long after I started saying I want you to come work with me, and I'm willing to do just about anything to make it happen, that she started saying, "me too!" In my opinion at least, it's safe to say that we're bonded like sisters, and always will be! 
On Sunday morning when she got me up for what I knew would be the last time, at least for a while since she's currently living about four hours away from me, I wanted the cradle position we were standing in for about 10 seconds to freeze, and I desperately wanted time to stand still. Throughout the entire week, when I was with her, there was never a point where I felt disabled, or even remembered that I was. It all felt so natural, and I didn't wanna let it go! As I was walking out to get on the bus on Sunday afternoon, she gave me a hug, and said, "plan on getting what you want, and you know what that means just as much as I do!" I told her I didn't just plan on getting what I wanted, I expected it! Judging by her response, her intentions are clear, "plan on it!"
In the almost month that I've been home there hasn't been a day that's gone by that I haven't done, or said something that hasn't brought me back to a conversation we had, or something we did. We're friends on facebook, and sometimes I can't even go to her page without wanting to cry because I miss her so much! She, and all of you have no idea how much I would give to have the feelings back that I have when we're together! No one has any idea what I would give to have the feeling of not having to think about my disability back!
I can guarantee all of you this: the next time I look at a rose, it'll have a much deeper meaning than it ever has before! Most of all though, it'll represent FREEDOM! I love you girlie, and I always, always, always, always will!