Father's Day: A Journey into the Mind and Heart of My Extraordinary Son

Jul 18
06:45

2012

Roberto Sedycias

Roberto Sedycias

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It is amazing what chance can mean to anyone, for example, although separated by just three minutes twins Zach and Gerry came into this world as two different people.

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It's amazing what chance can mean to anyone,Father's Day: A Journey into the Mind and Heart of My Extraordinary Son Articles for example, although separated by just three minutes twins Zach and Gerry came into this world as two different people, two very different people and a best-selling author father who loved them both and wanted to see what drove the different brother.

Few people probably know that Buzz Bizzinger, best-selling author of Friday Night Lights and Three Nights in August, is the father of two very different twins. His oldest is quite normal, a graduate student readying himself for the world of teaching, while his "baby," just three minutes younger than his older brother, is a person who could best be described as a savant.

Zach is a remarkable man in his own right and while he will have to be cared for the rest of his life, a life that no one else by Zach can know.

Zach is a savant with a remarkably memory. Indeed, it is a perfect memory. He also understands navigation in ways that we cannot understand. And, then there's his complete honesty which can make him seem both wise and simple at the same time.

"Father's Day" is a very special story as Bizzinger realized that while he knew his son Gerry, he didn't know exactly who his younger son was so they set out on a trip together to places they knew, the places they had visited and areas where they had lived.

This is as much a trip about father as it is about his son. Once they are on the road with Gerry heading toward Philadelphia, the story becomes one about a father and son bonding as the father learns things about his youngest son he never knew. He also begins to see how his son's mind works, as well as seeing how his heart works.

It's amazing just how twins can interact and with the help of Gerry, Zach shows his father a depth of character that goes beyond what one would normally expect. Zach is a perceptive man. He is far more patient than his father would have thought and he is, in his own way, fearless, yet kind.

He is what others would call a good man, but he may never know the real love of a woman or he may never be able to function outside of the special schools and facilities that he needs. Zach proved to be very surprising to his father and his father learned some surprising lessons about himself, the kind of lessons only a long trip with your family can show you.

Zach is a surprising man and will prove to be the best son he can be, given his limitations. Bizzinger learned that in a trip you will find worthwhile.