One word: Lucky

Having a special needs child guarantees a lot of worry. There is much daily monitoring and sleepless nights in addition to the usual things that terrify you in wonderment about the condition.

The last couple of nights he's been putting our shoes on, and walking around the house. Not a big deal, he has done this on occasion. He added a twist though, with shoes on he got the hairbrush and started brushing his hair.

Did he have someplace to go?

Well.

Today I worked, then went and did the grocery shopping.

When I got home my son was eating yogurt at the dining room table, my wife looked at me with tears in her eyes and was very upset.

I thought someone had died.

Then she told me he got out.

Wandering is a trait that some autistic kids have. They just take off. They get lost in the woods. They're attracted to things, such as water. Sometimes they do not make it.

My son was downstairs watching television, my wife was upstairs putting away laundry. This is something that has happened hundreds of times. She was not up there for long, again, this was something that she, no, we did all the time.

When she came downstairs he was gone. She looked to see if he was hiding someplace. He was not. She called 911.

The police were on it very, very quickly. I'd say less than five minutes before they found him a couple of blocks away. So thank you to the dispatcher and the Columbus Police Department for the safe return of my son.

He was headed to his mother's house. She lives very close, and he and I have walked there many times. He knows the way.

To get to his mother's you have to cross two side streets and one busy road. He crossed at least one side street on his own. Yes, you can imagine what could have happened to him, we certainly have.

My son had the knowledge to put his shoes on, the wrong feet, but they were on, get his backpack, open the back door (which he already knew how to do) then climb over a four foot fence in the back yard - he did this, getting a scrape on his belly as a reward. Then he walked through the alley behind our house, crossed at least one side street and got on the main road to his mother's.

To say my wife was terrified is an understatement. This was not her fault. As a wonderful stepmother, she goes though so much as is, she did not deserve this to happen to her.

I did call his mother to tell her what happened. She freaked, as is expected, but commiserated with me and placed no blame. This shit is hard, and it's not getting easier. Time for better locks.

Puberty and hormones are just around the corner.

I Do The Chet

Tonight at WB I did something I've never done before. I played guitar in public for the first time. I was inspired by The Chet and the idea came to me driving home from last weeks night. My guitar skills are weak but the song only had three chords and I already knew two and a half of them. Been playing for about thirty years, but never seriously. And again, never in front of a crowd.

There was no music stand so my Scottish Wife was very helpful as you see. Vernell shot this video. The pick broke at the end. I messed up the chords, often, could not see the page because Emma was bopping (poems that make you dance!) and one lyric should be Claudia and N-Bomb instead of F-Bomb. I was terrified.

Oh hell here it is...



I hope Tim Curry does not sue me.

Tumbling Further into the Abyss

My son has got his energy back. He's worn me out to the point of illness. I think the recent temperature changes have done that to me as well. It was thirty degrees warmer than today on Sunday. Which was when I got some yard work done, and went on the roof to make sure the gutters were secure.

Who knows when I got sick? Was coughing all day yesterday, dealing with insurance bureaucracy, a school meeting and a busy day at work.

Day 12 - A Song from a Band You Hate.

Hate is such a powerful word. Keeping with the no repeat rule, since the band I hate has plenty of songs I hate let me present you with some more musical filth.

I was part of a crowd that booed these wanker poseurs off the stage at Rich Stadium back in 1981. These sing songy twerps somehow got their way into one of the opening slots on the Rolling Stones "Tattoo You" tour. After George Thorogood donned a raincoat and blew the clouds away, these middle of the road hacks came on with their smiley waving feel good tunes that no one gave a crap about.

They left, still thinking they were loved, but did not finish their set.

Once again, because I like my readers (and there are more of you now, even if you do not comment) I will not embed the song. But if you click HERE you will see a foul site. Just looking at the lead singer's outfit is cause for a terms of service violation. You've been warned.