Oh, The Memories
I had five minutes of free time in between two big tasks last week. It was after 7pm, and I still had a to do list to complete that felt like a mile long. Unless it’s the weekend, I don’t get on FaceBook until the evening. Needing a break and curious what social media was reporting as news, I popped onto FB. Knowing I didn’t have much time, I started first with checking out my Memories/On This Day. After seeing this picture, I didn’t scroll to any other pages like I usually do.
This picture took my breath away.
To some it’s just origami. To me, it’s an instant reminder of the day the world stood still. This beautiful photo is of the paper crane my daughter gave me back in 2017 soon after Dan Olmsted died. Tears. I felt them coming, and with how long it’s been, there would be a flood of them.
During the time between Dan Olmsted’s death, which we remembered last week, and the celebration of life, which would be later in the spring, was a difficult time for many of us. It would be months before we could gather as a community to grieve together and to also celebrate the life he lived. I hung onto hope, to memories and to Dan’s last printed words wondering how could we go on without him? My daughter, who was 10 at the time, picked up on how woefully sad I was the closer the date to that celebration of life was. She gave me that paper crane, telling me, “Mommy it’s for you for Dan.” She and my other children adored the man I called friend and mentor.
The paper crane, a compelling symbol of hope, love, honor and peace.
If that is not the epitome of what I knew to be Dan Olmsted and his work! While some did not appreciate his investigative reporting, because of the truth he revealed, Dan worked toward peace. He honored us and our children in his posts and the hours of research spent prepping for them. He shared love and in doing so, he gave so many of us hope. On the occasions that Dan and I got to meet up, he himself was patient – with me, with my children, with the many questions I asked him. As controversial as some of the topics were that were part of his articles, books, and discussions, he was also full of peace. Always.
Getting to meet Dan, getting time to ask him questions, and getting to hear him speak at events will be some of the greatest memories of my life. Even if you never got to meet him, when you reread his work today, I think you, too, will pick up on each of the elements the paper crane symbolizes. Through his work…
We hope.
We love.
We honor.
And we work so hard for peace – peace for our children, for our families, and for our community. That can be hard to attain, especially when we’re in the midst of a storm. But it’s a worthy cause to work toward.
Dan Olmsted was noble, too, and the years he spent researching were important. It still is! And I pray that soon we will see healthier children and better futures for them. Today, here, we carry on his legacy, and we promise to bring a shared message to the public. It’s why we write, it’s why we research, it’s why we work as hard as we do, and it’s in great part thanks to Dan who held our little community together – and still does.
To Dan, forever leader of the Rebel Alliance – you are missed so very much.
Cathy Jameson is a Contributing Editor for Age of Autism.
Over on Highwire they are working on public opinion "what about the polio vaccine"
That was Dan's work.
He lead us here to the run up of RFKennedy's nomination to HHS.
Which by the way Pence is opposing. All that election trauma of 2020 ratted out some really bad guys, and though they are still around they have less power this time around.
Wonder what is in Pence's background that he wants to continue health of America like it is?
And other news is that Trump has cancelled Federal security protection for Fauci.
Gee Fauci will have to spend all his money for security for now on.
Posted by: Benedetta | January 26, 2025 at 07:01 PM
Good morning Ms Jameson. Thank you for sharing your memories of Dan Olmsted. So happy you got to meet and know him. Also, that you have meet Dr Wakefield, what honors you had. I picture a memory that didn't happen, but I see it, Dan Olmsted meeting Sam, no judgement, just lots of love for an innocent child that was severely damaged by man's greed. He fought so valantly for us. A memory I hope does happen one day is for Sam to meet Dr Wakefield, one day, God willing. Thank you and the AoA for being our voices and fighting so bravely for us and the many innocent children that were harmed. Blessings to all.
G. Martinez
Posted by: Gerardo Martinez | January 26, 2025 at 11:14 AM