July 12, 2024 • 31 mins
Laughter, Legacy, and New Voices
"Who Will Remember Us? The Warrior Spirit of Disability Advocates" is the kickoff episode of Season 3 of the True Tales by Disability Advocates Podcast, coming to you during Disability Pride Month. The new host team of MsBoye, Jennifer McKinney, and Adam Griebel bring fresh energy and humor to the show. Together, they introduce listeners to the impactful legacy of early advocates celebrating the legacy of early disability advocates with heartwarming and playful storytelling. Featuring guest Chris Strickling, one of the original creators of Actual Lives Austin, the episode shares engaging and humorous stories about advocates who have passed, like Terrell and Felix Briones. Their personal narratives provide a raw and honest glimpse into their lives, highlighting the power of storytelling as an advocacy for the right of people with disabilities to live full adult lives. Produced by Art Spark Texas' Speaking Advocates Program, the podcast highlights the importance of humor and authenticity in advocacy through storytelling while underscoring the importance of reclaiming lost voices and celebrating the contributions of those who have paved the way for future generations.
Introduction to True Tales by Disability Advocates
Welcome to True Tales by Disability Advocates Podcast, authentic voices of people thriving with disabilities, where individuals use the art of storytelling to change the world....
Meet the Hosts of Season 3
Hello, everyone, I'm MsBoye....
Honoring the Pioneers of Actual Lives Austin
We are starting Season 3 by looking back at folks who have paved the way for us ....
Chris Strickling on the Power of Storytelling
Tell us a little about those early days and the power of storytelling as a form of advocacy....
Terrell's Morning Routine
If you're ready, let's hear the first story. " Morning Routine" by Ter-rell...
Felix Briones' Speed and Humor
The next, uh, stories are from Felix....
Memories and Impact of Actual Lives Austin
Chris, do you have a favorite memory or story from your time with Actual Lives Austin?...
Final Thoughts and Farewell
Well, you know, this has just been so great....
Closing Remarks and Call to Action
Thank you for listening to episode one of the third season of True Tales by Disability Advocates Podcast....
Click here to listen with the full transcript.
For more details about our programs go to Art Spark Texas, True Tales Podcast Page.
Segments of this podcast were read by an automated voice. Inconsistencies in pronunciation and tone may occur.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Kristen Gooch (00:09):
Welcome to True Tales by Disability Advocates
Podcast, authentic voices ofpeople thriving with
disabilities, where individualsuse the art of storytelling to
change the world.
John Beer (00:22):
The True Tales by Disability Advocates Podcast is
produced by Art Spark Texas,Speaking Advocates Program.
The free virtual training isopen to people of all
disabilities, no matter whereyou live.
Kamand Alaghehband (00:35):
Keep listening to hear how life's
challenges can spark a desire tospeak out, and Advocate for
yourselves and others.
MsBoye (00:50):
Hello, you're listening to The True Tales by Disability
Advocates Podcast.
Changing the world one story ata time.
This is the show where advocatesharness the power of
storytelling to build communitywith their peers and hope that
they develop empathy in others.
Hello, everyone, I'm MsBoye.
Jennifer (01:11):
I'm Jennifer McKinney,
Adam (01:12):
I'm Adam Griebel,
MsBoye (01:14):
and we are your hosts for season three.
Jennifer (01:17):
In Season 3, we will continue to demonstrate the
power of storytelling as a formof advocacy with more personal
stories from the lives ofdisabled storytellers.
We are starting Season 3 bylooking back at folks who have
paved the way for us You'll hearstories from advocates and
(01:38):
storytellers who are no longerwith us.
Adam (01:40):
Right, and we have the perfect guest with us today.
Chris Strickling, who will actas navigator on our journey back
to the early days of the ActualLives group.
Chris was one of the threeoriginal creators of the Actual
Lives Austin, Opening Minds,Opening Doors program, now, The
(02:05):
Speaking Advocates TrainingProgram, our spinoffs of some of
the first works of Actual Lives,Austin.
Chris (02:14):
Thank you for that introduction.
Ummm...
Adam (02:17):
Thanks for joining us, Chris.
Chris (02:20):
Thank you for having me.
Jennifer (02:22):
Tell us a little about those early days and the power
of storytelling as a form ofadvocacy.
Chris (02:29):
Oh, I'd love to talk about this.
I was thinking about it, so Iwrote a little bit to make sure
I didn't miss anything.
I'm going to tell you a storyabout stories.
It's been about 20 plus yearssince Actual Lives Austin had
its first performances.
To me, it just feels likeyesterday.
Terry Galloway, the deafperformance artist, who first
(02:51):
created Actual Lives inTallahassee, Florida.
Came to Austin just as the 1990swere fading and the 2000s were
on their way in.
Together, Galloway, CeliaHughes, and I created this
particular version of the ActualLives platform.
It focuses on the lives ofpeople with disability.
(03:14):
The goal was to develop a groupof people who live with
disability and encourage them toshare their life stories using
comedy or movement or monologueor any way they could.
Today we go back to the earlyyears of Actual Lives, Austin,
to share the contributions ofmembers who have passed on.
You can hear their thoughtsthough, you can laugh with them,
(03:35):
feel the connections no matterhow we move or think or wish.
Adam (03:39):
That sounds great.
Jennifer (03:41):
It sounds beautiful.
I can't wait.
Why is it important to reclaimthese lost voices?
Why did you choose theseparticular stories?
Chris (03:52):
Great questions, Jennifer.
Um, it's important to reclaimthese lost voices because they
were part of the beginnings ofsomething that has lasted way
over 20 years.
Everyone who has a life has astory, and so often people with
disabilities don't get theirstories saved or celebrated.
(04:14):
So that's why it's important.
Yeah, and the reason I chosethese particular stories was
because they were people whohad, you know, they, they were
not particularly born to beactors or, any like thing like
that.
They were truly telling theirpersonal stories.
And I think their stories tellmore than any of us could tell
(04:37):
if we were telling it for them.
So, that's why.
Jennifer (04:40):
You know, Chris, I wasn't there in the beginning
and I really can't wait to hearabout these folks.
I've heard so much through youand Adam and this is exciting
for me.
Adam (04:55):
If you're ready, let's hear the first story.
Ruth (2) (05:09):
Morning Routine" by Ter-rell I do take off my
clothes to go to bed at night!We wake up and we try to
remember where we put theglasses.
I have to put my eyes on.
Now I’m awake.
Then I sit up, sit up at theside of the bed.
Sit there a minute, before we doanything.
(05:29):
Gotta pee, so, do I put the legon or just scoot to the potty
chair?
I usually have some pajamabottoms on.
If I ate a little something thenight before, gotta do that,
when you’re lopsided like thatit throws you off! The toilet
paper never leaves my side! Wegotta try do that sitting down!
(05:49):
We try to get back on the bedafter that.
Still sitting on the bed thehandy little stuff from the
hospital, I clean myself withthat.
Scrub those hands.
Park my skin to stay alive.
The insulin case is right there.
Since I’m blind, I have thiscontraption, I draw my insulin
up by sound.
(06:10):
I’m supposed to take 10milliliters of something.
I’m the only one using thisneedle, only me in my bed last
night! I don’t clean it.
Needle goes back in the case.
Eyes are kinda itching.
Better put those drops in theeyes for glaucoma.
Or I could self-medicate forthat! No, I’ll do what the
(06:31):
doctor told me to do, the wholebottle is running down my face,
and I got one drop in! Gotta dothe next eye now! Alright! now
gotta put the leg on.
Stump, sock, cuff..
since my stump is so skinny, puton two extra socks, male into
female connection, put my legon! Go in the back of the place
(06:55):
now...
maybe take it off to take ashower?
MsBoye (07:07):
I love that story.
I love the raw honesty and thereality of it.
But, you know, at the same time,there's an underlying sarcastic
humor, which of course, beingEnglish, I really appreciate.
(chuckles) She's, she's, she'salso being vulnerable by
exposing the parts of her daythat we are meant to keep, you
know, are meant to be keptprivate, kept hidden, which,
(07:30):
that must have been reallychallenging for many people to
hear.
You know, it's just not polite.
So I am so glad you picked thatstory, Chris.
Chris (07:41):
Thank you.
I want to say one more thingabout her.
When I started this, when I, I,it was up to me to get the
first, um, group of people tocome to this and join it.
And so I was just cold callingpeople at the, the, um, it was a
festival, I think.
But anyway, there's a lot ofpeople, and I just had these
(08:01):
little cards, and I was handingthem out to people, and I went
over to her, and I handed it toher, and she said, what's this?
And I told her about the card,and she said,"You know, I can't
see?" And I said,"I don't knowthat." And she said,"Well, you
do now!" And she was the firstperson to sign up for Actual
Lives Austin in Austin.
Adam (08:19):
I rem..., I remember her.
Chris (08:21):
Ahmm.
Jennifer (08:22):
What do you remember about her?
Adam (08:24):
She was a slight lady.
Um, I just remember how you werevery active in working with
different members of our group.
Jennifer (08:35):
How did she work as a storyteller with you, Chris?
Chris (08:40):
Well, um, I think she did this"Morning Routine" because
she wanted people to see whather life was like, because she
had had a very different kind oflife.
She was, um, a video wizard.
She made videos to teach peopleskills.
Uh, about writing and culturalissues.
And she was a, you know, she wasa very proud, lovely African
(09:05):
American woman.
And she wanted to show peoplewhat had happened to her body
when she got sick.
I think it was, maybe she wantedto warn them or something.
And so she just let...she wouldjust like take off her, her, uh,
leg you know, and put it down onthe ground.
Just to shock people, to gettheir attention and to make them
(09:28):
like have a conversation withher about that.
And I saw her several times andwe'd go out to lunch or
something and she take her, erleg and put it up on the table
and people would just go, Youknow, they were just, and she
just loved digging on that.
And saying that this may not bethe life that I wanted, but this
is life and I want you to seeit.
(09:49):
So I think that was the wholereason she wanted to come and do
this, because she couldn't doher video work anymore, but she
could get on the stage andreally get some, some work done
there
MsBoye (09:59):
It sounds like Terrell had quite an impact on you.
Like, have you got any storiesabout that?
Chris (10:07):
oh God.
I have learned more from Terrellthan I've learned from anyone
ever in a, in a situation likethis, in an art kind of thing,
because she was so, uh, willingto be real and when she needed
someone, she would call me.
I used to live way far away fromher, like 45 minutes away And
(10:31):
she would call me and she'd say,"I got up this morning, I woke
up." And I said,"Well, good foryou Terrell." She said,"Yeah,
that's a good thing.
I don't know about tomorrow."And she said, she would say,"I
need you to come do this." Youknow,"I, I need some groceries
or I need to go down to theclinic because my, I think my,
my, um, leg is...", and shecalled it her leg.
(10:53):
Her leg wasn't fitting right orsomething.
And I would have to stop what Iwas doing and go do that.
I just compel to do that.
And every time that probably.
Maybe four or five times I woulddrive into town and go get her
and she'd be just a mess andwith the biggest smile.
And she'd offer whatever she hadin her house and to eat.
(11:14):
And sometimes I actually ate itwith her.
And, uh, I learned that thiswhole line that I was working
with, which was that everybodyis just the same, even we just
in different circumstances.
And we need each other and wecan give to each other no matter
how much we have to give,materially or time or anything.
(11:39):
So she, ran me for quite a whileand with my complete, you know,
I was completely aware that wewere doing that.
And I was, deadica...
I was so happy for that becauseat her end days, she also wanted
me to be around.
And I, it was a bunch of herAfrican American friends and me.
(12:00):
We together went over a bunch ofbarriers.
And it was a lovely thing.
MsBoye (12:06):
That's such important work in the world.
Chris, I know you have otherfolks you want to tell us about
and their stories to share.
I think we've got time for onemore today.
Jennifer (12:17):
Yeah.
You know, um, let's hear thenext story.
Chris (12:21):
The next, uh, stories are from Felix.
He and, um, he had a stroke anda, a car accident.
And he was not able to drive,not able to make, to drive
anymore because he couldn't makea left hand turn.
And he would try to drive justwith his right hand, and that
(12:44):
didn't work very well.
So this is his one of this isone of his first things that he
wrote:
Oliver (12:57):
Speed" by Felix Briones I can’t ever seem to get the
speed right.
In 2001, I went to my firstNascar Race at the Pepsi 4000.
I started driving my motorizedchair on the track, but was told
to get off because I needed togo LEFT...
and I couldn't! I went with mybrother and some friends, and we
(13:18):
camped for a week in the endfield.
I tried to take my chair ontothe track for a try out, but
then they told me that cars goabout 240 Miles Per Hour on the
track....
Instead of the 8 miles per day,I can do in my chair! Then, not
long ago, I was coming out ofthe Capital cafeteria, when I
HIT SOMEONE!! I looked down andall I could see were these two
(13:39):
FEET sort of caught there.
I looked up and in the hallwaythere are these DPS officers
running in my direction.
I said to myself,"oops, I’m introuble now!" The DPS gets there
to help pick up the guy whosefeet were under my chair.
I’m thinking I’m in big troublenow! The officers say,"You all
right, Governor Perry?
(13:59):
And they pick him up and dusthim off! I'd run over Rick
Perry! The Governer of Texas!Now when I’m up at the capital
with ADAPT, the DPS officersalways say,“Slow down Briones!
every time I get inside thebuilding.
Seems I’m either too slow or toofast!
Jennifer (14:19):
Laughing That is a great story I love that one.
Chris (14:23):
I do too.
MsBoye (14:25):
So, so, tell us about Felix.
He sounds like a laugh a minute.
Chris (14:29):
Oh he was so funny, funny He he just loved being alive and
he had this you know prettytraumatic injury car injury and
he was it's still justcompletely devoted to cars as
you can see as a person he wasone of the kindest people I know
He never said a bad thing aboutanyone He would give you
(14:52):
anything he had he and he didoften give things to people in
the in the group that neededhelp.
And he he was always theremostly to make us laugh it was
really.
Um Something that he felt likehe had to offer and he certainly
did.
And the last thing he wroteabout was about someone asking
what he wanted to learn firstwhen he went to a rehab.
(15:15):
And he said, I want to know howto, um, uh, I want to learn how
to a woman's bra off with onlyone hand."
MsBoye (15:24):
A vital life skill, I would add.
Jennifer (15:26):
(Laughter)
Adam (15:28):
A.D.L's
Chris (15:30):
Yeah!
Oliver (15:37):
One handed Bra” When I first got to therapy, I thought
it was going to be hard.
The therapist asked me,“What doyou want to learn how to do
first?” I said, I want to learnhow to take a woman’s bra off,
with only one hand.” So, shewent into the other room and
came back wearing a bra on theoutside of her shirt! Well, it
took my own hand, teeth and alittle imagination, but off it
(16:01):
came.
That put a smile on my face
Adam (16:05):
Let's go.
Jennifer (16:08):
What effects did Felix have on you and the group
Chris (16:12):
Felix was just a, the, the sweetness that came in from
somebody accepting this quoteunquote bad thing that happened
to him and just moving rightthrough it.
Oh, he just became the Go Guyfor when you wanted to be
cheered up.
And he would catch you if youwere complaining and make a
joke.
He always could make a goodjoke, and he, he wanted to be in
(16:33):
that group, and he came in withDanny Sines, and, um, Danny was
the same kind of guy, and, uh,but Felix just, the things he
wrote were so hilarious, and,and they were all true.
So it was just great a gift thathe gave us, and we all felt it
Jennifer (16:53):
That's beautiful.
I found myself laughing out loudduring this first story.
So, yeah, I'm glad you shared.
Thanks, Chris.
MsBoye (17:03):
Yeah.
He seems like he would have beena great standup comedian, you
know?
Chris (17:08):
He would have.
He didn't last very long, so hewasn't with us for very many
years.
But I think it was maybe two orthree years he performed with
us, and then he got too sick todo that, and then he left.
But we didn't let him get veryfar.
He's still in our hearts.
MsBoye (17:24):
That's right.
And now he'll come to life inthe hearts of all of us who
didn't get to meet him inperson.
Did you know him Adam?
Adam (17:32):
I did, I did not, I knew him, I, what I remember is,
maybe he was a poorly Hispanicguy.
Chris (17:44):
He was.
Adam (17:45):
In a wheelchair.
With Danny Sines.
Chris (17:48):
Yeah.
Yeah.
He was.
Adam (17:51):
But I didn't, I didn't put it on my hard drive, so.
MsBoye (17:55):
(Warm gentle laughter.)
Jennifer (18:01):
Chris, do you have a favorite memory or story from
your time with Actual LivesAustin?
Chris (18:07):
I do.
I, um, I don't remember whatyear it was Celia knows, but, we
got invited, Actual Lives Austingot invited to be in a, um,
Adam (18:19):
Uh, there was a VSA International Arts Festival in
Washington, D.
C.
in 2004.
Chris (18:27):
Yeah! And we were invited and we could, I think we picked
like 15 of the people.
And so there was a 15 peoplewith disabilities and, you know,
some of us already haddisability, too.
I went and Celia and the womanthat did the lights, Olivia
(18:48):
O'Hare, and Terry Galloway, andwe er, did one of our best
plays.
We had one of our, you know, wehad really good shows and, you
know, this one was our, our mostfun.
We got to Washington and we hada very small time to get on the
stage and just stage it, so thatthey everybody would know where
(19:11):
to come in and when to go outand with you go out in the piece
which door you go you know allthat stuff has to be.
And There was like 12 groupslike that.
Local theaters that had been,given to the VSA so they could
make these things, and so ourswas a really nice one, a really
nice theater.
And there's plenty of time, wehad several people with
(19:32):
wheelchairs, and we had peoplewith, you know, who were
signing, and all kinds of stuff,people on the stage.
So you needed a pretty bigstage, and we did our best, our
best work in its best way we,it's the best time we ever did
it.
And it was a standing ovationfrom people who lived in that
(19:52):
community.
And they'd come up and hug usand tell us how wonderful that
we were.
All these people had everythingthat they had worked for
validated, you know, by that onenight.
I don't think any of us thatwere there will ever forget it.
It was just...
And Terry and I and Celia werejust jumping up and down.
(20:15):
It was just...
You know, you hope, you hopesometime that everything you've
helped people learn and they,they, that they just do it
really good.
All of them one night.
They just did.
That was something that I thinkeverybody agrees is our, was our
high point
MsBoye (20:33):
Oh, wow.
I love that.
You know, as a writer and adirector and even as a as an
actor, we live for that momentwhen everything that you've
worked for comes together betterthan you could ever imagine.
I mean, that moment's magical.
It's brilliant.
When actors bring your words tolife and, or as a director, when
you see or feel even the impactyour actors are having on the
(20:57):
audience, I mean, that's, that'sthat's what keeps us coming back
and, and doing it again andagain.
You know, there's this brillianttheater company in London called
Graeae, and, and they've beenaround for about 40 years now.
But when they started, no onehad done what they wanted to do,
like y'all, they had no templateto follow.
So when they did their firsttour, they did what you did,
(21:18):
which is like,"Well, we've gotall these people and some of
them are using wheelchairs and,and, and other people are
needing interpreters, et cetera,et cetera.
And, and well, uhhh, we've gotthese plays and we're taking
them on a national tour andwe're just going to get them
there and we'll make it happenand see what happens." You know?
And that, that, that, It's like,it's the warrior nature of
(21:41):
Disability Advocates, you know?
And, and that comes through inall of our stories.
In their own way, each, eachstory displays that warrior
nature.
Adam (21:54):
I'll never forget"Crip Tango" to the, to the, to the
tune of"Cell Block Tango" from"Chicago".
Chris (22:02):
Yeah.
Adam (22:02):
Wow, that was just incredible.
Chris (22:06):
It was over the top.
Jennifer (22:07):
The whole thing sounds amazing.
Again, I wish I had been thereearlier.
MsBoye (22:11):
Hmhm!
Adam (22:12):
You would have been like 12?
Jennifer (22:14):
(Explosive laughter) What year was this?
Adam (22:19):
'04.
Jennifer (22:20):
Oh no, I would have been out of high school.
MsBoye (22:33):
Well, you know, this has just been so great.
Thank you, Chris, for joining usall the way from Mexico,
Chris (22:39):
My pleasure.
MsBoye (22:41):
uh, but we do have a few final questions for you.
Chris (22:44):
Okay.
MsBoye (22:45):
Okay, Chris, if you were doing this interview, if you
were the host, is there anythingelse you would have asked
yourself?
Chris (22:53):
Not really.
I think, I mean, we could talkall day about the things but
what I was interested in withthese stories is, for people to
understand, get an idea aboutwhat, who these people that are
on paper with us instead of in achair, and I think we did that.
I think that we've we enjoyedand questioned and listened, and
(23:14):
that is the, when you dosomething that's important to
you and you can do, you can letpeople understand things that
happened way before them in thiskind of way, I'm very happy with
it, I wouldn't change it.
MsBoye (23:28):
You know, Chris, we both know Disability History is lost
history, you know.
We've been invisible.
And so to have uh, not, not onlystories about disability, the
lives of people with disability,but also their personal stories,
their human stories in their ownwords.
Chris (23:46):
Yeah!
MsBoye (23:46):
And to keep them alive, that's, that's one of the things
we wanted to do.
You know, I know when Celia cameup with this idea of the
podcast, she was like,"We haveso many stories and, and we
don't, I don't want them to belost." Right?
Chris (24:00):
Yes, and I want to say one other thing that I don't
talk about very much that I wasin Graduate School when we did
that.
I was basically a, um, literaryperson and, um, not a
performance person, so I gotsort of moved over into that,
you know, the things that happenin theaters and, um, I ended up
(24:25):
using, uh, exploring moretheater"in your body" kinds of
stuff.
I wrote, I wrote my, uh,doctoral dissertation in three
chapters and the first chapterwas about Actual Lives
MsBoye (24:39):
Wow!
Chris (24:40):
It was about how, you can take, a group of people who
don't know each other and whoare already having troubles, uh,
being in this situation thatthey're in and find places where
that's funny and where that'shelpful to say out loud and er,
to meet each other in differentplaces and stuff.
(25:00):
And it still is such my, mypleasure that I got that chance
to do that for so, so long
MsBoye (25:08):
UHmmm.
Chris (25:08):
And I just finished a book, about one of our other
people that we didn't talk abouttoday Her name was Joyce
Dowieczek and she was a realfireball.
I've written a book about her,her I stayed with her after
Actual Lives, and she, she and Iwrote, I helped her rewrite,
write...
write stories that she wanted togive to people, and she, I was
(25:30):
with her right to the time ofher death.
And I was her guardian for awhile, and so I did everything
from wiping her bottom tosigning, all kinds of papers and
screaming at nurses.
And you know, this thing withJoyce was for me, uh, something
new.
I was an occupational therapist,so I could help her, you know,
(25:52):
around at that level for free.
And I, I think the book is readyto go now, so I'm going to try
again to see if I can get itpublished, but she deserves
that.
And really everybody in thegroup deserves that kind of
attention of the community.
Actual Lives itself changed me,but I got more out of it than I
(26:13):
ever gave in it I think.
Coz it was my, my luck thatCelia would let us do that and
that Terry would come in andstart it and come back and come
back and back several times toreshape us and make us more.
Because I'm still not a theaterperson.
We had to ask her, beg her come,you know, please come And she,
(26:37):
she did it for many years andshe just like, okay, I got a
real life to do.
(Laughs) So...
MsBoye (26:43):
Mm
Jennifer (26:44):
For OMOD, Opening Minds, Opening Doors, when Eric
was running it, you came backfrom Mexico a few times.
Chris (26:52):
So worth it.
Jennifer (26:53):
And it was so much fun.
Chris (26:54):
Yeah.
I want to help anybody who wantsto get their story out.
And right now I want to, get meto get my story out....
MsBoye (27:04):
Yeah, May it be so!.
Jennifer (27:08):
Um, if you had the attention of the whole world for
five minutes, what would yousay?
Chris (27:19):
Oh, gosh, I think I would just start out with saying.
"You're, you're just fine likeyou are and you have something
to offer and if there's any waythat you can figure out a way to
show and give to other peoplewho you are and what you have
that's your life.
(27:39):
That's, that's it.
That, to me, that's the big it.
If you, you get focused enoughto understand what you can do
and then you actually do it, itchanges people and it changes
you.
It doesn't matter what you thinkabout yourself, you know,
there's every, there's a sparkin everyone.
Jennifer (27:58):
Oh! Wow! I love that.
MsBoye (28:01):
Yeah! Yeah, maybe so.
Yeah, so, to the final Adam, youwant to do that final question
number three?
Adam (28:09):
Oh, ha, ha How do you wanna be remembered?
That's pretty existential.
Chris (28:17):
It is pretty existential.
Yeah.
I think that I want my friendsto speak about me as a person
who um, was funny and did mostof what she wanted to do.
And was usually interested inhelping other people because
that's just what's inside of meand that's what gives me
(28:38):
pleasure and a sense of being,having a reason to stay here.
So, I, and that I'm justgrateful for everything.
And if I die tomorrow, it's finewith me.
You know, I, I've done so muchmore than I've ever thought I
would do.
And I have great kid and greatgranddaughter, grandson, and I
(28:59):
have everything I've wanted.
And I think the way you liveshows how you go.
So....
Jennifer (29:09):
Yeah, I'm glad you shared.
Thanks, Chris.
Thank you for being here withus, Chris, all the way from
Mexico.
We really, really appreciate it.
It's been amazing, eye opening,just delightful.
Chris (29:24):
Me too.
Thank you.
Adam (29:27):
And me, thanks.
MsBoye (29:28):
You know, before we go, I want to thank Celia, Celia
Hughes, for making this happen,um, and getting you here, and
helping us, and helping youcurate the stories.
Um, I mean, in Season 3, we'regoing to be focusing on those
older stories, and it wasimportant for us to, in a way,
you know, honor our ancestors.
Uh, what do they say?
(29:48):
You live as long as you areremembered.
So, thank you, Chris, forhelping us keep these folks
alive.
I've heard about you for solong, it's been great finally
meeting you.
Chris (29:59):
Thank you.
And I just want to say lastthing, none of this would have
happened without Celia.
Adam (30:05):
Yay Celia.
Jennifer (30:06):
Yay Celia.
Thank you.
MsBoye (30:08):
Yeah, maybe we need to interview Celia for this show
sometime.
She's got plenty of stories totell.
Chris (30:15):
She does
Jennifer (30:16):
True.
MsBoye (30:17):
Yeah...
Jennifer (30:18):
Bye everyone
MsBoye (30:24):
Thank you for listening to episode one of the third
season of True Tales byDisability Advocates Podcast.
If you enjoyed this episode, oh,please share it with your
friends and talk about us onsocial media.
If you're feeling particularlyadventurous, consider leaving us
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and of course, don't forget tofollow us on Facebook,
(30:45):
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Goodbye, everybody, and have awonderful day
Kamand Alaghehband (30:55):
All episodes of The True Tales by Disability
Advocates are free on ApplePodcasts, Spotify, and anywhere
you get your podcasts.
John Beer (31:04):
The program is funded in part by a grant from the
Texas State Independent LivingCouncil, the Administration for
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Kristen Gooch (31:15):
To learn more about The Speaking Advocates
Program, sign up for ournewsletter at artspark T X dot
org.
That's A R T S P A R K T X dot OR G.
Welcome to True Tales by Disability Advocates
Podcast, authentic voices ofpeople thriving with
disabilities, where individualsuse the art of storytelling to
change the world.
John Beer (00:22):
The True Tales by Disability Advocates Podcast is
produced by Art Spark Texas,Speaking Advocates Program.
The free virtual training isopen to people of all
disabilities, no matter whereyou live.
Kamand Alaghehband (00:35):
Keep listening to hear how life's
challenges can spark a desire tospeak out, and Advocate for
yourselves and others.
MsBoye (00:50):
Hello, you're listening to The True Tales by Disability
Advocates Podcast.
Changing the world one story ata time.
This is the show where advocatesharness the power of
storytelling to build communitywith their peers and hope that
they develop empathy in others.
Hello, everyone, I'm MsBoye.
Jennifer (01:11):
I'm Jennifer McKinney,
Adam (01:12):
I'm Adam Griebel,
MsBoye (01:14):
and we are your hosts for season three.
Jennifer (01:17):
In Season 3, we will continue to demonstrate the
power of storytelling as a formof advocacy with more personal
stories from the lives ofdisabled storytellers.
We are starting Season 3 bylooking back at folks who have
paved the way for us You'll hearstories from advocates and
(01:38):
storytellers who are no longerwith us.
Adam (01:40):
Right, and we have the perfect guest with us today.
Chris Strickling, who will actas navigator on our journey back
to the early days of the ActualLives group.
Chris was one of the threeoriginal creators of the Actual
Lives Austin, Opening Minds,Opening Doors program, now, The
(02:05):
Speaking Advocates TrainingProgram, our spinoffs of some of
the first works of Actual Lives,Austin.
Chris (02:14):
Thank you for that introduction.
Ummm...
Adam (02:17):
Thanks for joining us, Chris.
Chris (02:20):
Thank you for having me.
Jennifer (02:22):
Tell us a little about those early days and the power
of storytelling as a form ofadvocacy.
Chris (02:29):
Oh, I'd love to talk about this.
I was thinking about it, so Iwrote a little bit to make sure
I didn't miss anything.
I'm going to tell you a storyabout stories.
It's been about 20 plus yearssince Actual Lives Austin had
its first performances.
To me, it just feels likeyesterday.
Terry Galloway, the deafperformance artist, who first
(02:51):
created Actual Lives inTallahassee, Florida.
Came to Austin just as the 1990swere fading and the 2000s were
on their way in.
Together, Galloway, CeliaHughes, and I created this
particular version of the ActualLives platform.
It focuses on the lives ofpeople with disability.
(03:14):
The goal was to develop a groupof people who live with
disability and encourage them toshare their life stories using
comedy or movement or monologueor any way they could.
Today we go back to the earlyyears of Actual Lives, Austin,
to share the contributions ofmembers who have passed on.
You can hear their thoughtsthough, you can laugh with them,
(03:35):
feel the connections no matterhow we move or think or wish.
Adam (03:39):
That sounds great.
Jennifer (03:41):
It sounds beautiful.
I can't wait.
Why is it important to reclaimthese lost voices?
Why did you choose theseparticular stories?
Chris (03:52):
Great questions, Jennifer.
Um, it's important to reclaimthese lost voices because they
were part of the beginnings ofsomething that has lasted way
over 20 years.
Everyone who has a life has astory, and so often people with
disabilities don't get theirstories saved or celebrated.
(04:14):
So that's why it's important.
Yeah, and the reason I chosethese particular stories was
because they were people whohad, you know, they, they were
not particularly born to beactors or, any like thing like
that.
They were truly telling theirpersonal stories.
And I think their stories tellmore than any of us could tell
(04:37):
if we were telling it for them.
So, that's why.
Jennifer (04:40):
You know, Chris, I wasn't there in the beginning
and I really can't wait to hearabout these folks.
I've heard so much through youand Adam and this is exciting
for me.
Adam (04:55):
If you're ready, let's hear the first story.
Ruth (2) (05:09):
Morning Routine" by Ter-rell I do take off my
clothes to go to bed at night!We wake up and we try to
remember where we put theglasses.
I have to put my eyes on.
Now I’m awake.
Then I sit up, sit up at theside of the bed.
Sit there a minute, before we doanything.
(05:29):
Gotta pee, so, do I put the legon or just scoot to the potty
chair?
I usually have some pajamabottoms on.
If I ate a little something thenight before, gotta do that,
when you’re lopsided like thatit throws you off! The toilet
paper never leaves my side! Wegotta try do that sitting down!
(05:49):
We try to get back on the bedafter that.
Still sitting on the bed thehandy little stuff from the
hospital, I clean myself withthat.
Scrub those hands.
Park my skin to stay alive.
The insulin case is right there.
Since I’m blind, I have thiscontraption, I draw my insulin
up by sound.
(06:10):
I’m supposed to take 10milliliters of something.
I’m the only one using thisneedle, only me in my bed last
night! I don’t clean it.
Needle goes back in the case.
Eyes are kinda itching.
Better put those drops in theeyes for glaucoma.
Or I could self-medicate forthat! No, I’ll do what the
(06:31):
doctor told me to do, the wholebottle is running down my face,
and I got one drop in! Gotta dothe next eye now! Alright! now
gotta put the leg on.
Stump, sock, cuff..
since my stump is so skinny, puton two extra socks, male into
female connection, put my legon! Go in the back of the place
(06:55):
now...
maybe take it off to take ashower?
MsBoye (07:07):
I love that story.
I love the raw honesty and thereality of it.
But, you know, at the same time,there's an underlying sarcastic
humor, which of course, beingEnglish, I really appreciate.
(chuckles) She's, she's, she'salso being vulnerable by
exposing the parts of her daythat we are meant to keep, you
know, are meant to be keptprivate, kept hidden, which,
(07:30):
that must have been reallychallenging for many people to
hear.
You know, it's just not polite.
So I am so glad you picked thatstory, Chris.
Chris (07:41):
Thank you.
I want to say one more thingabout her.
When I started this, when I, I,it was up to me to get the
first, um, group of people tocome to this and join it.
And so I was just cold callingpeople at the, the, um, it was a
festival, I think.
But anyway, there's a lot ofpeople, and I just had these
(08:01):
little cards, and I was handingthem out to people, and I went
over to her, and I handed it toher, and she said, what's this?
And I told her about the card,and she said,"You know, I can't
see?" And I said,"I don't knowthat." And she said,"Well, you
do now!" And she was the firstperson to sign up for Actual
Lives Austin in Austin.
Adam (08:19):
I rem..., I remember her.
Chris (08:21):
Ahmm.
Jennifer (08:22):
What do you remember about her?
Adam (08:24):
She was a slight lady.
Um, I just remember how you werevery active in working with
different members of our group.
Jennifer (08:35):
How did she work as a storyteller with you, Chris?
Chris (08:40):
Well, um, I think she did this"Morning Routine" because
she wanted people to see whather life was like, because she
had had a very different kind oflife.
She was, um, a video wizard.
She made videos to teach peopleskills.
Uh, about writing and culturalissues.
And she was a, you know, she wasa very proud, lovely African
(09:05):
American woman.
And she wanted to show peoplewhat had happened to her body
when she got sick.
I think it was, maybe she wantedto warn them or something.
And so she just let...she wouldjust like take off her, her, uh,
leg you know, and put it down onthe ground.
Just to shock people, to gettheir attention and to make them
(09:28):
like have a conversation withher about that.
And I saw her several times andwe'd go out to lunch or
something and she take her, erleg and put it up on the table
and people would just go, Youknow, they were just, and she
just loved digging on that.
And saying that this may not bethe life that I wanted, but this
is life and I want you to seeit.
(09:49):
So I think that was the wholereason she wanted to come and do
this, because she couldn't doher video work anymore, but she
could get on the stage andreally get some, some work done
there
MsBoye (09:59):
It sounds like Terrell had quite an impact on you.
Like, have you got any storiesabout that?
Chris (10:07):
oh God.
I have learned more from Terrellthan I've learned from anyone
ever in a, in a situation likethis, in an art kind of thing,
because she was so, uh, willingto be real and when she needed
someone, she would call me.
I used to live way far away fromher, like 45 minutes away And
(10:31):
she would call me and she'd say,"I got up this morning, I woke
up." And I said,"Well, good foryou Terrell." She said,"Yeah,
that's a good thing.
I don't know about tomorrow."And she said, she would say,"I
need you to come do this." Youknow,"I, I need some groceries
or I need to go down to theclinic because my, I think my,
my, um, leg is...", and shecalled it her leg.
(10:53):
Her leg wasn't fitting right orsomething.
And I would have to stop what Iwas doing and go do that.
I just compel to do that.
And every time that probably.
Maybe four or five times I woulddrive into town and go get her
and she'd be just a mess andwith the biggest smile.
And she'd offer whatever she hadin her house and to eat.
(11:14):
And sometimes I actually ate itwith her.
And, uh, I learned that thiswhole line that I was working
with, which was that everybodyis just the same, even we just
in different circumstances.
And we need each other and wecan give to each other no matter
how much we have to give,materially or time or anything.
(11:39):
So she, ran me for quite a whileand with my complete, you know,
I was completely aware that wewere doing that.
And I was, deadica...
I was so happy for that becauseat her end days, she also wanted
me to be around.
And I, it was a bunch of herAfrican American friends and me.
(12:00):
We together went over a bunch ofbarriers.
And it was a lovely thing.
MsBoye (12:06):
That's such important work in the world.
Chris, I know you have otherfolks you want to tell us about
and their stories to share.
I think we've got time for onemore today.
Jennifer (12:17):
Yeah.
You know, um, let's hear thenext story.
Chris (12:21):
The next, uh, stories are from Felix.
He and, um, he had a stroke anda, a car accident.
And he was not able to drive,not able to make, to drive
anymore because he couldn't makea left hand turn.
And he would try to drive justwith his right hand, and that
(12:44):
didn't work very well.
So this is his one of this isone of his first things that he
wrote:
Oliver (12:57):
Speed" by Felix Briones I can’t ever seem to get the
speed right.
In 2001, I went to my firstNascar Race at the Pepsi 4000.
I started driving my motorizedchair on the track, but was told
to get off because I needed togo LEFT...
and I couldn't! I went with mybrother and some friends, and we
(13:18):
camped for a week in the endfield.
I tried to take my chair ontothe track for a try out, but
then they told me that cars goabout 240 Miles Per Hour on the
track....
Instead of the 8 miles per day,I can do in my chair! Then, not
long ago, I was coming out ofthe Capital cafeteria, when I
HIT SOMEONE!! I looked down andall I could see were these two
(13:39):
FEET sort of caught there.
I looked up and in the hallwaythere are these DPS officers
running in my direction.
I said to myself,"oops, I’m introuble now!" The DPS gets there
to help pick up the guy whosefeet were under my chair.
I’m thinking I’m in big troublenow! The officers say,"You all
right, Governor Perry?
(13:59):
And they pick him up and dusthim off! I'd run over Rick
Perry! The Governer of Texas!Now when I’m up at the capital
with ADAPT, the DPS officersalways say,“Slow down Briones!
every time I get inside thebuilding.
Seems I’m either too slow or toofast!
Jennifer (14:19):
Laughing That is a great story I love that one.
Chris (14:23):
I do too.
MsBoye (14:25):
So, so, tell us about Felix.
He sounds like a laugh a minute.
Chris (14:29):
Oh he was so funny, funny He he just loved being alive and
he had this you know prettytraumatic injury car injury and
he was it's still justcompletely devoted to cars as
you can see as a person he wasone of the kindest people I know
He never said a bad thing aboutanyone He would give you
(14:52):
anything he had he and he didoften give things to people in
the in the group that neededhelp.
And he he was always theremostly to make us laugh it was
really.
Um Something that he felt likehe had to offer and he certainly
did.
And the last thing he wroteabout was about someone asking
what he wanted to learn firstwhen he went to a rehab.
(15:15):
And he said, I want to know howto, um, uh, I want to learn how
to a woman's bra off with onlyone hand."
MsBoye (15:24):
A vital life skill, I would add.
Jennifer (15:26):
(Laughter)
Adam (15:28):
A.D.L's
Chris (15:30):
Yeah!
Oliver (15:37):
One handed Bra” When I first got to therapy, I thought
it was going to be hard.
The therapist asked me,“What doyou want to learn how to do
first?” I said, I want to learnhow to take a woman’s bra off,
with only one hand.” So, shewent into the other room and
came back wearing a bra on theoutside of her shirt! Well, it
took my own hand, teeth and alittle imagination, but off it
(16:01):
came.
That put a smile on my face
Adam (16:05):
Let's go.
Jennifer (16:08):
What effects did Felix have on you and the group
Chris (16:12):
Felix was just a, the, the sweetness that came in from
somebody accepting this quoteunquote bad thing that happened
to him and just moving rightthrough it.
Oh, he just became the Go Guyfor when you wanted to be
cheered up.
And he would catch you if youwere complaining and make a
joke.
He always could make a goodjoke, and he, he wanted to be in
(16:33):
that group, and he came in withDanny Sines, and, um, Danny was
the same kind of guy, and, uh,but Felix just, the things he
wrote were so hilarious, and,and they were all true.
So it was just great a gift thathe gave us, and we all felt it
Jennifer (16:53):
That's beautiful.
I found myself laughing out loudduring this first story.
So, yeah, I'm glad you shared.
Thanks, Chris.
MsBoye (17:03):
Yeah.
He seems like he would have beena great standup comedian, you
know?
Chris (17:08):
He would have.
He didn't last very long, so hewasn't with us for very many
years.
But I think it was maybe two orthree years he performed with
us, and then he got too sick todo that, and then he left.
But we didn't let him get veryfar.
He's still in our hearts.
MsBoye (17:24):
That's right.
And now he'll come to life inthe hearts of all of us who
didn't get to meet him inperson.
Did you know him Adam?
Adam (17:32):
I did, I did not, I knew him, I, what I remember is,
maybe he was a poorly Hispanicguy.
Chris (17:44):
He was.
Adam (17:45):
In a wheelchair.
With Danny Sines.
Chris (17:48):
Yeah.
Yeah.
He was.
Adam (17:51):
But I didn't, I didn't put it on my hard drive, so.
MsBoye (17:55):
(Warm gentle laughter.)
Jennifer (18:01):
Chris, do you have a favorite memory or story from
your time with Actual LivesAustin?
Chris (18:07):
I do.
I, um, I don't remember whatyear it was Celia knows, but, we
got invited, Actual Lives Austingot invited to be in a, um,
Adam (18:19):
Uh, there was a VSA International Arts Festival in
Washington, D.
C.
in 2004.
Chris (18:27):
Yeah! And we were invited and we could, I think we picked
like 15 of the people.
And so there was a 15 peoplewith disabilities and, you know,
some of us already haddisability, too.
I went and Celia and the womanthat did the lights, Olivia
(18:48):
O'Hare, and Terry Galloway, andwe er, did one of our best
plays.
We had one of our, you know, wehad really good shows and, you
know, this one was our, our mostfun.
We got to Washington and we hada very small time to get on the
stage and just stage it, so thatthey everybody would know where
(19:11):
to come in and when to go outand with you go out in the piece
which door you go you know allthat stuff has to be.
And There was like 12 groupslike that.
Local theaters that had been,given to the VSA so they could
make these things, and so ourswas a really nice one, a really
nice theater.
And there's plenty of time, wehad several people with
(19:32):
wheelchairs, and we had peoplewith, you know, who were
signing, and all kinds of stuff,people on the stage.
So you needed a pretty bigstage, and we did our best, our
best work in its best way we,it's the best time we ever did
it.
And it was a standing ovationfrom people who lived in that
(19:52):
community.
And they'd come up and hug usand tell us how wonderful that
we were.
All these people had everythingthat they had worked for
validated, you know, by that onenight.
I don't think any of us thatwere there will ever forget it.
It was just...
And Terry and I and Celia werejust jumping up and down.
(20:15):
It was just...
You know, you hope, you hopesometime that everything you've
helped people learn and they,they, that they just do it
really good.
All of them one night.
They just did.
That was something that I thinkeverybody agrees is our, was our
high point
MsBoye (20:33):
Oh, wow.
I love that.
You know, as a writer and adirector and even as a as an
actor, we live for that momentwhen everything that you've
worked for comes together betterthan you could ever imagine.
I mean, that moment's magical.
It's brilliant.
When actors bring your words tolife and, or as a director, when
you see or feel even the impactyour actors are having on the
(20:57):
audience, I mean, that's, that'sthat's what keeps us coming back
and, and doing it again andagain.
You know, there's this brillianttheater company in London called
Graeae, and, and they've beenaround for about 40 years now.
But when they started, no onehad done what they wanted to do,
like y'all, they had no templateto follow.
So when they did their firsttour, they did what you did,
(21:18):
which is like,"Well, we've gotall these people and some of
them are using wheelchairs and,and, and other people are
needing interpreters, et cetera,et cetera.
And, and well, uhhh, we've gotthese plays and we're taking
them on a national tour andwe're just going to get them
there and we'll make it happenand see what happens." You know?
And that, that, that, It's like,it's the warrior nature of
(21:41):
Disability Advocates, you know?
And, and that comes through inall of our stories.
In their own way, each, eachstory displays that warrior
nature.
Adam (21:54):
I'll never forget"Crip Tango" to the, to the, to the
tune of"Cell Block Tango" from"Chicago".
Chris (22:02):
Yeah.
Adam (22:02):
Wow, that was just incredible.
Chris (22:06):
It was over the top.
Jennifer (22:07):
The whole thing sounds amazing.
Again, I wish I had been thereearlier.
MsBoye (22:11):
Hmhm!
Adam (22:12):
You would have been like 12?
Jennifer (22:14):
(Explosive laughter) What year was this?
Adam (22:19):
'04.
Jennifer (22:20):
Oh no, I would have been out of high school.
MsBoye (22:33):
Well, you know, this has just been so great.
Thank you, Chris, for joining usall the way from Mexico,
Chris (22:39):
My pleasure.
MsBoye (22:41):
uh, but we do have a few final questions for you.
Chris (22:44):
Okay.
MsBoye (22:45):
Okay, Chris, if you were doing this interview, if you
were the host, is there anythingelse you would have asked
yourself?
Chris (22:53):
Not really.
I think, I mean, we could talkall day about the things but
what I was interested in withthese stories is, for people to
understand, get an idea aboutwhat, who these people that are
on paper with us instead of in achair, and I think we did that.
I think that we've we enjoyedand questioned and listened, and
(23:14):
that is the, when you dosomething that's important to
you and you can do, you can letpeople understand things that
happened way before them in thiskind of way, I'm very happy with
it, I wouldn't change it.
MsBoye (23:28):
You know, Chris, we both know Disability History is lost
history, you know.
We've been invisible.
And so to have uh, not, not onlystories about disability, the
lives of people with disability,but also their personal stories,
their human stories in their ownwords.
Chris (23:46):
Yeah!
MsBoye (23:46):
And to keep them alive, that's, that's one of the things
we wanted to do.
You know, I know when Celia cameup with this idea of the
podcast, she was like,"We haveso many stories and, and we
don't, I don't want them to belost." Right?
Chris (24:00):
Yes, and I want to say one other thing that I don't
talk about very much that I wasin Graduate School when we did
that.
I was basically a, um, literaryperson and, um, not a
performance person, so I gotsort of moved over into that,
you know, the things that happenin theaters and, um, I ended up
(24:25):
using, uh, exploring moretheater"in your body" kinds of
stuff.
I wrote, I wrote my, uh,doctoral dissertation in three
chapters and the first chapterwas about Actual Lives
MsBoye (24:39):
Wow!
Chris (24:40):
It was about how, you can take, a group of people who
don't know each other and whoare already having troubles, uh,
being in this situation thatthey're in and find places where
that's funny and where that'shelpful to say out loud and er,
to meet each other in differentplaces and stuff.
(25:00):
And it still is such my, mypleasure that I got that chance
to do that for so, so long
MsBoye (25:08):
UHmmm.
Chris (25:08):
And I just finished a book, about one of our other
people that we didn't talk abouttoday Her name was Joyce
Dowieczek and she was a realfireball.
I've written a book about her,her I stayed with her after
Actual Lives, and she, she and Iwrote, I helped her rewrite,
write...
write stories that she wanted togive to people, and she, I was
(25:30):
with her right to the time ofher death.
And I was her guardian for awhile, and so I did everything
from wiping her bottom tosigning, all kinds of papers and
screaming at nurses.
And you know, this thing withJoyce was for me, uh, something
new.
I was an occupational therapist,so I could help her, you know,
(25:52):
around at that level for free.
And I, I think the book is readyto go now, so I'm going to try
again to see if I can get itpublished, but she deserves
that.
And really everybody in thegroup deserves that kind of
attention of the community.
Actual Lives itself changed me,but I got more out of it than I
(26:13):
ever gave in it I think.
Coz it was my, my luck thatCelia would let us do that and
that Terry would come in andstart it and come back and come
back and back several times toreshape us and make us more.
Because I'm still not a theaterperson.
We had to ask her, beg her come,you know, please come And she,
(26:37):
she did it for many years andshe just like, okay, I got a
real life to do.
(Laughs) So...
MsBoye (26:43):
Mm
Jennifer (26:44):
For OMOD, Opening Minds, Opening Doors, when Eric
was running it, you came backfrom Mexico a few times.
Chris (26:52):
So worth it.
Jennifer (26:53):
And it was so much fun.
Chris (26:54):
Yeah.
I want to help anybody who wantsto get their story out.
And right now I want to, get meto get my story out....
MsBoye (27:04):
Yeah, May it be so!.
Jennifer (27:08):
Um, if you had the attention of the whole world for
five minutes, what would yousay?
Chris (27:19):
Oh, gosh, I think I would just start out with saying.
"You're, you're just fine likeyou are and you have something
to offer and if there's any waythat you can figure out a way to
show and give to other peoplewho you are and what you have
that's your life.
(27:39):
That's, that's it.
That, to me, that's the big it.
If you, you get focused enoughto understand what you can do
and then you actually do it, itchanges people and it changes
you.
It doesn't matter what you thinkabout yourself, you know,
there's every, there's a sparkin everyone.
Jennifer (27:58):
Oh! Wow! I love that.
MsBoye (28:01):
Yeah! Yeah, maybe so.
Yeah, so, to the final Adam, youwant to do that final question
number three?
Adam (28:09):
Oh, ha, ha How do you wanna be remembered?
That's pretty existential.
Chris (28:17):
It is pretty existential.
Yeah.
I think that I want my friendsto speak about me as a person
who um, was funny and did mostof what she wanted to do.
And was usually interested inhelping other people because
that's just what's inside of meand that's what gives me
(28:38):
pleasure and a sense of being,having a reason to stay here.
So, I, and that I'm justgrateful for everything.
And if I die tomorrow, it's finewith me.
You know, I, I've done so muchmore than I've ever thought I
would do.
And I have great kid and greatgranddaughter, grandson, and I
(28:59):
have everything I've wanted.
And I think the way you liveshows how you go.
So....
Jennifer (29:09):
Yeah, I'm glad you shared.
Thanks, Chris.
Thank you for being here withus, Chris, all the way from
Mexico.
We really, really appreciate it.
It's been amazing, eye opening,just delightful.
Chris (29:24):
Me too.
Thank you.
Adam (29:27):
And me, thanks.
MsBoye (29:28):
You know, before we go, I want to thank Celia, Celia
Hughes, for making this happen,um, and getting you here, and
helping us, and helping youcurate the stories.
Um, I mean, in Season 3, we'regoing to be focusing on those
older stories, and it wasimportant for us to, in a way,
you know, honor our ancestors.
Uh, what do they say?
(29:48):
You live as long as you areremembered.
So, thank you, Chris, forhelping us keep these folks
alive.
I've heard about you for solong, it's been great finally
meeting you.
Chris (29:59):
Thank you.
And I just want to say lastthing, none of this would have
happened without Celia.
Adam (30:05):
Yay Celia.
Jennifer (30:06):
Yay Celia.
Thank you.
MsBoye (30:08):
Yeah, maybe we need to interview Celia for this show
sometime.
She's got plenty of stories totell.
Chris (30:15):
She does
Jennifer (30:16):
True.
MsBoye (30:17):
Yeah...
Jennifer (30:18):
Bye everyone
MsBoye (30:24):
Thank you for listening to episode one of the third
season of True Tales byDisability Advocates Podcast.
If you enjoyed this episode, oh,please share it with your
friends and talk about us onsocial media.
If you're feeling particularlyadventurous, consider leaving us
a review on Facebook or even onyour favorite podcast platform,
and of course, don't forget tofollow us on Facebook,
(30:45):
Instagram, and LinkedIn.
Goodbye, everybody, and have awonderful day
Kamand Alaghehband (30:55):
All episodes of The True Tales by Disability
Advocates are free on ApplePodcasts, Spotify, and anywhere
you get your podcasts.
John Beer (31:04):
The program is funded in part by a grant from the
Texas State Independent LivingCouncil, the Administration for
Community Living, andindividuals like you.
Kristen Gooch (31:15):
To learn more about The Speaking Advocates
Program, sign up for ournewsletter at artspark T X dot
org.
That's A R T S P A R K T X dot OR G.
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