If it was the latter, consider yourself lucky. Some people don't have it that easy. "To Catch the Snowflakes" by Lawrence J. Schulenberg (c. 2003, Publish America) is a memoir of a life lived disregarding a so-called "disability."

Some 60 years ago, Larry Schulenberg was a little boy riding his pony, playing with his sister, and enjoying first grade, when literally overnight, his life changed. Larry was stricken by polio, which was all-too-common in the 1940's, before vaccines. His diagnosis was followed by many hospitalizations, operations, and hopeful "miracle" treatments.

Schulenberg, however, says he was fortunate. He had the support of his parents, his extended family, friends and schoolteachers. He re-learned to walk. He learned to navigate stairs. He learned that he didn't have limitations, if he set his mind on what he wanted. Nobody treated him differently; in fact, he tells of times when he pushed the limits of his parents' patience, and was punished, just like everybody else would have been punished. He had a quite normal childhood, and he credits his parents - in particular, his mother - for giving him the strength and guidance to ignore his physical limitations. Schulenberg got the title of his book from words his mother said when he was very young.

Schulenberg eventually attended college, became an English teacher, and met Pat, the sorority sister who would become his wife. The Schulenbergs received their respective degrees, moved to Council Bluffs and adopted two children. Larry writes of the years spent raising a family and being involved in his church and community, and he tells many tales of students and teachers he knew as he climbed from teacher to principal in various schools.

But, as they say, bad things happen in threes. Shortly after his father died, Schulenberg began experiencing intense pain, and was diagnosed with Post-Polio Syndrome which caused him to have to quit his beloved job. Not long after that, his son, Marty, was arrested for his involvement with drugs and even now sits in prison in Yankton, S.D. Today, Schulenberg works on behalf of several organizations that help prisoners and their families.

Far from being a "poor-me" kind of book, "To Catch the Snowflakes" is uplifting. Schulenberg says that he never considered himself "handicapped" or "disabled," nor did his family; in fact, he tells of a time when he was scolded by his children for pulling into a handicapped parking spot. Schulenberg has many interesting stories to tell, and his book is almost like having a conversation with a new friend.

"To Catch the Snowflakes" is a thin little book, full of determination, and highly recommended. Read it. You'll be taking "I can't" out of your vocabulary.

Editor's Note: Schulenberg will sign books Saturday from 1 to 4 p.m. at the Council Bluffs Public Library, 400 Willow Ave.

- Terri Schlichenmeyer is a freelance book reviewer