Maybe I am Just Jealous

Troy Justesen,

Troy Justesen, deputy commissioner of the U.S. Department of Education’s Rehabilitation Services Administration (RSA), was in the building today. Troy has become a Washington Hotshot, so when he is in town it’s big news and when in town doing his job as deputy commissioner it’s even bigger news. My office shares the same space with the DD Council our state and they are hosting this open house—which is a small question and answerer session for “your guy in Washington”

I really like Troy—you have to know, Troy is half of a set of identical twins. Troy’s twin is Tracy who is almost if not as magnificent as Troy. I first got to know Troy about twenty years ago when I worked for the independent Living Center here in this State. Troy worked for another Independent Living Center North of here in Logan. The reception/meeting was being held right outside my office. So, it would have looked pretty weird if I had “snubbed” the gathering. I have top admit I was surprised when Troy remembered me. [ Bear in mind that he did drive his scooter by my door before I came out to meeting. I once saw the late great Justin Dart on a visit to our fair city. I was intrigued if not shocked when I was questioned by some of his folk of “who would be in the audience?” Later during his remarks he actually named these folks, like they were old friends.
I thought to myself “Wow, that’s how the big boys do it…good trick?] he noted that I no longer worked for Independent Living and seemed shocked. He shared hat we had both worked in Independent Living when the first six national grants had been cut. In the time that Troy had rolled past my door and the time I rolled into the meeting was about ten-fifteen minutes; more then enough time to lean over and ask the person sitting next to you,” Hey, who is the old guy in the chair back there?” With my name a mind as quick as Troy’s could meld the name and history for a boat load of great comments. The comments were solid, rich and endearing. We were instantly “brothers in the movement, again—we shared a history no one else in the room could be part of or take away. I have to admit it was cool. Then I remembered Justin Dart, then I also placed into context that Tracy and Troy served a draconian administration in respect to civil rights and disability rights. Troy was a politician—most of the time—but, every once in a while vision of the old Troy would filter through. The Justesen Twins did what they were supposed to do. Two guys with pretty significant disabilities became part of the IL movement. Went back to school got their advanced degrees
(cloaking devices) and quietly slipped back into the “System” and have slowly been making changes from the inside out. I dare say these two are the highest placed IL alums we have placed in the current administration. I should not be so paranoid. Maybe I am just jealous.