Epilogue

ep . i . logue /noun/ afterword, postscript, , addendum, conclusion

This week we’re looking at a word that is most often related to a literary work, where it serves as a concluding section that rounds out the piece. An epilogue, as you can see from the definitions, is an addition. Sometimes a story has reached its resolution; the denouement has occurred; the loose ends have been tied up neatly. From all appearances, the book is complete, but there is something yet to be said that doesn’t fit neatly into the end of the story. That is where the epilogue comes in.

In my book Breaking Away,  the main character, Lola McIntyre, severs ties with New Lebanon College, marries Jerome Ellison in a beautiful wedding on the lawn of a Jamaican villa, and  goes off with her new husband to their tent of happiness. End of story, but to use the late commentator Paul Harvey’s famous phrase, “the rest of the story” needs to be told–briefly. And so I filled the reader in on life in Hartford, Connecticut for Lola and Jerome and Tintern Abbey.

In Mr. Michael: Journeying with My Special Son,  I told about what it was like raising a son with  autism, all the while not having a clue as to what the true nature of his disability was. The narrative moves from his birth to his adult years. The special occurrences and unexpected blessings detailed in the book make, for many readers,  an informative, satisfying, and inspirational story. Whenever I tell Michael’s story–our story–I find myself bringing my listener up-to-date with information that is not in the book. I thought my book was complete with Michael landing a job–almost miraculously–in a nearby restaurant and giving evidence of wonderful personal growth. But after he had worked there for over three years, loving his job and  getting a commendation from the management, the restaurant began cutting back on staff, and Michael was reduced to working one day a week–Friday. He had no meaningful involvement the rest of the workdays. Loving to work as he does, he became discouraged and frustrated. We were out looking for work once again.

I turned once more to Orange Grove Center, which had trained Michael well for the first job, and  again they coached him, took him to job-experience locations, conducted mock interviews with him, and took him to real interviews. I was involved in every aspect of his training program. The result of their hard work was that when his coach took him to a Moe’s restaurant, he was hired for a job working five days each week four hours each day. After he worked for a year, he received a week’s vacation with pay. Such a wonderful outcome! This is an epilogue that parents of children with autism need to read about. If we persevere with our special children, exposing them to every available opportunity, our efforts can pay off.

Michael’s impact on people is phenomenal. They remark about his good manners and friendliness. His ability to recall names always impresses them. He creates a positive influence in the work environment. Sometime ago, he brought home a sheet of paper from work and enthusiastically announced to me that he had received a “resume.” I found his word choice amusing. What he had received  was a compliment. A customer had written a glowing review of his visit to the restaurant, and the folk at the main office had sent it on to the local restaurant where Michael works. It was called a “WOW Comment” and is quoted in its entirety below.

                   “Michael is an outstanding ambassador for this Moe’s restaurant. He exuberantly greeted each guest as they arrived and often spoke to them again as they got through paying  and got into the line to fill their drink or find their table, or when they were leaving. The longer I stayed there eating, the more I  enjoyed Michael’s presence. I was having a down day, but he made me smile and feel better seeing his personality in action. He was also constantly cleaning or doing some other work to keep the restaurant clean or ready for the customers (such as  keeping the salsa bar replenished). I look forward to my next visit and hope it is a day Michael is working.”

An incident like this  calls for an epilogue.  It is a postscript that could only have been written with the help of God.

Autism is a major disability. For parents and other family members dealing with the problem, any good news about an autism sufferer’s success is encouraging. Those whose lives have been touched by the disability, whether parents, grandparents, aunts, or uncles–and I have met them all–can be encouraged by Michael’s “success.”  Beyond that, they can play a part in spreading autism awareness by the positive things they say and do to enlighten others about the disability and the potential for growth  for those on the  autism spectrum.

Actually, all of us have epilogue situations, from the little everyday successes to the major triumphs that we are sometimes privileged to experience. When the blessings keep coming even after the chapter closes on a particular successful event, we have a joyful postscript to share.  Such an experience deserves an epilogue of praise. In this  way we encourage others and  enrich our own  lives with an attitude of gratitude.

Blessings,

Judith

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You, too, can help spread autism awareness.