I know most men, including my husband just rolled their eyes. Please bare with me and keep reading, the reasons might not be the obvious ones.
If I am to be honest here, I have never seen a movie that starred Mr. Farrell until January 2012. I occasionally saw a picture of Colin here and there with the headlines: "Bad boy of Hollywood" or something to that regard. In passing I would glance at the picture, and think to myself, "hmmm, he is handsome", but would go on with my day. When Colin's career really started to take off, I was in my own dramas. The dramas of divorce, raising 2 small boys on my own, moving from Minnesota back to my home in Buffalo, NY. Experiencing the drama of failure and starting over, I really didn't have much time to pine over some hot, sexy, brooding Irishman.
In 2001, I remarried, and in 2002 I had my third son. Scotty was different from the onset of pregnancy. A very high risk pregnancy, lots of bed rest, and many scares of losing him before he was born. Let's fast forward, in 2003, at one year old, Scotty is diagnosed with Cerebral Palsy and Epilepsy. Many doctors, specialists, and neurologists later, he was finally correctly diagnosed with Angelman Syndrome in 2009(at 7 1/2 years old). Angelman Syndome!? WTH...All I knew about this syndrome was that the children flap their hands all the time. I was wrong, that is just one of the possible traits. My son is a textbook case of AS. He is Del + and has 97% of the symptoms and characteristics of AS.
I am a mom to 3 very beautiful and unique sons. They all have their own special needs. We all do. However, Scotty's definition of special needs was a bit deeper than what yours and my needs might be. I felt so very alone in the day to day caring of my son. "Nobody understood or got what we were going through", or so I thought. I was introduced to this incredible hip thing called 'facebook'. My older children were mortified that I signed up and had my own account. As a mom, I must admit, it was to stalk and snoop on my sons' pages to learn things I didn't want to know and things I should know.
FB turned out to be the catalyst to finding a community that I am forever grateful for. The Angelman Family..we are a hodge podge of people: parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, and siblings of individuals with AS. We come from all over the world and all walks of life. We are teachers, doctors, construction workers, business owners, philanthropists, full time parents, nurses, athletes, and even actors.
Yes, this is when I fell in love with Colin Farrell. I was introduced to him through Foundation for Angelman Syndrome Therapeutics (FAST www.cureangleman.org). I watched him on Ellen, Letterman, Leno, and any other talk show I could find on Youtube. I met him in person at the FAST Gala on Dec 3, 2011. He shook my hand, I kissed his cheek. We spoke briefly of our similar experiences of the wrong diagnoses for our sons. His son, James is one year younger than Scotty and was also misdiagnosed with CP. I learned in that brief encounter that this man is as humble, loving, caring, and genuine as they come. I did my best to NOT be that stalker fan. I contained my composure, I was as reserved as I could possibly be. However, later on telling everyone else how I kissed his cheek..I sounded much like the 16 year old girl with a mad crazy crush with the screams/screeches and all.
Colin spoke at this GALA, and there was not a dry eye in the room. As he talks of his journey with his son, James, Colin's voice trembles. He spoke from the heart and soul of what it is like to be a father of an Angel. He spoke words and sentiments that all the Angel dads (and moms) feel and experience every day. He spoke of how his son has brought him to be a better man. That his own son is really raising him with his tremulous hand. I could not contain my tears (and some embarrassing sobs). My husband, who was an avid drinker also shared a similar story as Mr. Farrell. Giving up drinking and working at becoming a better man. A man and father their angels deserve.
I can tell you all the obvious reasons why I love Colin Farrell. I have watched every single movie this man has been in. I had quite the Colin movie marathon this month. As I watched these movies, I got to know this man, actor, father, person on a whole new level. He is an incredible actor with great range and depth. He is believable in every role he has played. His eyes can describe his emotion without speaking a sound. He is fearless in every roll. He bares his soul. ( May I mention, that he bares more than his soul in some roles :). He is very handsome, sexy, and quite the impressive actor. However, these are not the reasons why I love this man.
I love Colin Farrell for the same reason I love my husband and other Angel dads. His commitment to his Angel and his family. His love and pure admiration for his Angel. His dedication to make a difference in this world to inform others of AS and to move forward in sharing some intimate moments in his life.
Colin like so many fathers of Angels wear their hearts on their sleeves.
They love with all of their might, they advocate, they protect, they love, they live to see a better life for their Angels. Some of these dads are doing it alone, some have help, and some have lost their Angels too soon to seizures.
I love Colin Farrell because he is a man and a father who loves deeply. He (like other Angel dads) is imperfect, human, yet open, and transparent: He is like so many other Angel dads, fearless.
This is for all the Angel dads out there. Sending you love, honor, and respect.
If I am to be honest here, I have never seen a movie that starred Mr. Farrell until January 2012. I occasionally saw a picture of Colin here and there with the headlines: "Bad boy of Hollywood" or something to that regard. In passing I would glance at the picture, and think to myself, "hmmm, he is handsome", but would go on with my day. When Colin's career really started to take off, I was in my own dramas. The dramas of divorce, raising 2 small boys on my own, moving from Minnesota back to my home in Buffalo, NY. Experiencing the drama of failure and starting over, I really didn't have much time to pine over some hot, sexy, brooding Irishman.
In 2001, I remarried, and in 2002 I had my third son. Scotty was different from the onset of pregnancy. A very high risk pregnancy, lots of bed rest, and many scares of losing him before he was born. Let's fast forward, in 2003, at one year old, Scotty is diagnosed with Cerebral Palsy and Epilepsy. Many doctors, specialists, and neurologists later, he was finally correctly diagnosed with Angelman Syndrome in 2009(at 7 1/2 years old). Angelman Syndome!? WTH...All I knew about this syndrome was that the children flap their hands all the time. I was wrong, that is just one of the possible traits. My son is a textbook case of AS. He is Del + and has 97% of the symptoms and characteristics of AS.
I am a mom to 3 very beautiful and unique sons. They all have their own special needs. We all do. However, Scotty's definition of special needs was a bit deeper than what yours and my needs might be. I felt so very alone in the day to day caring of my son. "Nobody understood or got what we were going through", or so I thought. I was introduced to this incredible hip thing called 'facebook'. My older children were mortified that I signed up and had my own account. As a mom, I must admit, it was to stalk and snoop on my sons' pages to learn things I didn't want to know and things I should know.
FB turned out to be the catalyst to finding a community that I am forever grateful for. The Angelman Family..we are a hodge podge of people: parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, and siblings of individuals with AS. We come from all over the world and all walks of life. We are teachers, doctors, construction workers, business owners, philanthropists, full time parents, nurses, athletes, and even actors.
Yes, this is when I fell in love with Colin Farrell. I was introduced to him through Foundation for Angelman Syndrome Therapeutics (FAST www.cureangleman.org). I watched him on Ellen, Letterman, Leno, and any other talk show I could find on Youtube. I met him in person at the FAST Gala on Dec 3, 2011. He shook my hand, I kissed his cheek. We spoke briefly of our similar experiences of the wrong diagnoses for our sons. His son, James is one year younger than Scotty and was also misdiagnosed with CP. I learned in that brief encounter that this man is as humble, loving, caring, and genuine as they come. I did my best to NOT be that stalker fan. I contained my composure, I was as reserved as I could possibly be. However, later on telling everyone else how I kissed his cheek..I sounded much like the 16 year old girl with a mad crazy crush with the screams/screeches and all.
Colin spoke at this GALA, and there was not a dry eye in the room. As he talks of his journey with his son, James, Colin's voice trembles. He spoke from the heart and soul of what it is like to be a father of an Angel. He spoke words and sentiments that all the Angel dads (and moms) feel and experience every day. He spoke of how his son has brought him to be a better man. That his own son is really raising him with his tremulous hand. I could not contain my tears (and some embarrassing sobs). My husband, who was an avid drinker also shared a similar story as Mr. Farrell. Giving up drinking and working at becoming a better man. A man and father their angels deserve.
I can tell you all the obvious reasons why I love Colin Farrell. I have watched every single movie this man has been in. I had quite the Colin movie marathon this month. As I watched these movies, I got to know this man, actor, father, person on a whole new level. He is an incredible actor with great range and depth. He is believable in every role he has played. His eyes can describe his emotion without speaking a sound. He is fearless in every roll. He bares his soul. ( May I mention, that he bares more than his soul in some roles :). He is very handsome, sexy, and quite the impressive actor. However, these are not the reasons why I love this man.
I love Colin Farrell for the same reason I love my husband and other Angel dads. His commitment to his Angel and his family. His love and pure admiration for his Angel. His dedication to make a difference in this world to inform others of AS and to move forward in sharing some intimate moments in his life.
Colin like so many fathers of Angels wear their hearts on their sleeves.
They love with all of their might, they advocate, they protect, they love, they live to see a better life for their Angels. Some of these dads are doing it alone, some have help, and some have lost their Angels too soon to seizures.
I love Colin Farrell because he is a man and a father who loves deeply. He (like other Angel dads) is imperfect, human, yet open, and transparent: He is like so many other Angel dads, fearless.
This is for all the Angel dads out there. Sending you love, honor, and respect.
