About a year ago, after two different attempts at college, and several failed jobs, we arranged for our son to reside in a private group home.  The place wasn't licensed by anyone - it was just one of several homes run by a gentleman with the calling of helping troubled… Read full post »

The air conditioning has been an issue at one of my company's nursing homes for FOUR years.  Last year, the problem was so bad that a number of residents chose to leave their home and move elsewhere.  Nurses aides were dripping with sweat as they labored to deliver care in… Read full post »

She's the only matriarch left in my family -- my mother and grandmother now gone - one to suicide, the other old-age.   She's not that old -- barely 65 -- but 12 years younger than my mother would have been.

She was never very nice.  My mother married young at… Read full post »

It has been an interesting couple of months...last post left you all with my son moving into an independent living group home.  I know - a real oxymoron.  But, the situation has been good for him.  Although more high functioning than his house-mates, it has been invaluable for him… Read full post »

It was a very difficult decision; putting my son into a group home.  Well, we didn't exactly "put" him in a group home.  He is twenty  years old, after all.  He had to be willing to agree to try it himself.  But, after flunking out after 3 attempts at college, and n… Read full post »

I’ve always been searching for the truth.  Attempting to understand where I came from, why I am here, my purpose on earth, and where am I going -  these musings have always been a driving force for me.     

This force has taken me to visit almost every Wester… Read full post »

I don't think there is anything worse than a Monday morning commute.  Working up the energy to change gears after a relaxing weekend is cruelty squared.  Knowing you must face congested urban traffic is enough to make you want to pull the covers back over your head and rethink your emp… Read full post »

It's been awhile since my last post,  and I wish I had better news.  It has been almost a year since I began this blog which chronicled my asbergers son's journey to college. For those that followed this journey, you will remember that the college excursion was an abysmal failure… Read full post »

Earlier today, I opened the door to our darling neighbor girl decked out in her Brownie beanie and sash.  It’s that time of year – Girl Scout cookies.  Yum.  Thin mints are my all time favorite.  Is it that they are really the best cookie around – or is it that… Read full post »

Just when it seems things are settled and peaceful for a week or so - I hold my breath.  I'm afraid to breathe because I know that it is just a matter of time before we hit crisis mode again.  It's not just a matter of  "if" it will happen, it is a… Read full post »

I remember all of the women in the family bustling about the crowded kitchen.  Wearing Sunday best, they scurried about each providing their contribution to the feast.  As a young girl I remember watching the last minute Lemon Meringue Pie making and the deft manipulation of too many side d… Read full post »

Everyone wants to be a pharmaceutical rep.  Why, I have no idea.  It is little more than a glorified delivery person and signature-getter job.   Like many "jobs" it used to be a profession. Scientific information and data was shared and taught.  Doctors used to rely on r… Read full post »

If things like death, marriage, moving, divorce, graduating, having a child, and becoming an empty nester rack up stress-o-meter points, then I shoudn't be complaining.

The past 8+ weeks, have indeed been some of the most stressful of my life and I thought my REALLY tough times had long passed. … Read full post »

A lot has happened in the last couple of weeks.  Working through the latest with our son has been a cross between a bad drug trip and Mr. Toad's Wild Ride at Disneyland -- yeah, a real "E" ticket.  Guess I just dated myself with the whole E ticket thing.

Last… Read full post »

Things haven't been going well -- at all.  My son asked to come home after 6 weeks of dorm living.  He dropped out of University after about 3 weeks, and spent the next 3 in near to total solitude.  He has vascillated back and forth as to what he wants and needs,… Read full post »

It was just a week ago, that I dumped my son off by the side of the road in the pouring rain.  Those familiar with our journey will remember that it was an incredibly painful yet necessary action -- and guess what?  It worked.  My son walked back to his apartment where… Read full post »

Today, I left my son by the side of the road in the pouring rain.  I withdrew the offer of a car, money and support.  I am still reeling from the decision.

After much deliberation and uncertainty, my husband and I had decided to give my son our old spare car… Read full post »

I waited a while to allow things to settle-out before posting on the continuing journey with my son.  After all of the teeth-gnashing and nail-biting, I relay that he says he is trying to put a plan together.  Sort of.  Honestly -- I don't really see any indication.  He's sitting… Read full post »

After reading SO many angry political opinion pieces -- I just want to say, "could everybody please take your seat?"  I think the escalating political furor is out of control.  It's to the point that is doesn't even seem rational anymore.  The rants are more and more emotional and less… Read full post »

No sooner did I hit the "send" button for my last blog posting, did my cell phone ring.  Shockingly, it was my son.  He just wanted to talk.  He had already called his father who was apparently not in a receptive or responsive mood to speak with him. I guess he… Read full post »

I've been pretty broken up.  So scared about the unknowns and my son's safety.  This morning I broke the code of silence.  I felt I needed to at least text him (not exactly "direct" contact). 

What I wanted to tell him was this:  "There have always been alternatives to colle… Read full post »

At 4:30 PM today I got a very strange phone call from my son.  Safely deposited at college, settled in his dorm, attending classes -- so I thought.  He wanted me to drive over to the University to pick him up.  NOW.  Didn't matter I hadn't finished up my work-day or… Read full post »

I may have just made one of the dumbest decisions in my life today.  It has been exactly one year since I was laid off from my job.  That's right -- we got same day notice, while the company owners made millions and sold off to a huge corporation partnered with a… Read full post »

There's not really much to say right now.  I'm lower than low - lower than I've felt in a long time.  Some of it is chemical, I'm sure.  But the truth is that  I am low because I feel kind of empty. 

Overseeing the needs of a special needs child is… Read full post »