I know we live in a world were it is easy to let ourselves become incredibly self absorbed....but saying "thank you" to people is not going to result in getting our eyes lids ripped out. 

Unless of course those people are Zombies.....

As I am sitting down to write this entry I have just realized that my foot has fallen asleep under me.  Slowly the blood is pushing back into the shipping lanes they are supposed to be.  It hurts like having to watch "The Happening" again. Not that my blue bloodless limp foot has anything to do with what I want to talk about.  I just wanted to share my pain with someone.  My puppy who is sitting next to me on the coach is reacting to my tears, convulsions, and whimpering  with a Spock-like indifference.  Ever notice how the feeling of the blood moving back in is just like labor pain?  (No...I have never physically given birth...but I am certain it could not hurt more than this)  I guess this is a good lesson in not becoming too comfortable while sitting on the coach motionless. 

This burning feet is waking me up to a task I have to work on though. In a week I will be speaking at another Autism event.  The audience will be educators ranging from elementary to secondary.  I am focusing the rest of tonight and wondering what exactly I am going to say...

The things I need to say are stuck on the roof of my heart like a spoonful of creamy Jiffy. 

This will be different than the normal talk I usually give at functions like this.  Normally I get to talk to other parents like myself and my message is simply "I understand".  To other parents and caregivers of children with Autism I can share a bit of our story that is usually very similar to ones that they could tell.   You see we parents of ASD children share some of the same war scars and worry wrinkles.  When speaking in front of others I also like to convey the fact that if a schlep-o like me can find the strength to stand up for my special child than anyone can...

To the teachers of our special children  I guess my words are going to have to be different.

The thing I will say will be very basic.  



THANK YOU.



I know teachers who have been at it for 20-some years and they all seem to have the similar mantra when it comes to their vocation. Their mantra is "retirement".  The ones I know who have been in the trenches that long are usually worn down and burnt out.  Being a teacher is very hard work and after that many years of fighting the same fights over and over again they are tired...and I cannot blame them.  Daily they face difficult situations, red tape, indifferent parents, and cafeteria food.  Many are doing this because at one time or another they loved it.  They loved children.  They loved to open up young minds and fill them up with truth, questions, wonder, and a quench for lifelong learning.  Yes, there are some teachers out there who are not very good...but like anything they get all the press while the ones who grind day and day out to better our youth get pushed aside.  I believe that those who teach first and foremost deserve our gratitude.  Teachers are my heroes.


Teaching children with special needs takes guts, compassion and patience.  To those who give their lives to this pursuit I believe you have a nice little heavenly time share waiting for you some day.  These people are some of the most amazing I have ever met.  Even when I may disagree with those who work with my son I am in awe of their choice to be in our battle.  Our family did not choose this war...but you did.  Thank you. Thank you.  Thank you. 

One a side note.

This is a good reminder that I need to thank people in my life more.  There are people who pass in and out of my daily life who do me a solid that I let slip by without my appreciation.  My new goal is to find 30 reasons to thank 30 different people tomorrow.  From the dude who makes me a yummy mocha to the nurse who I am probably going to force to sing to me as she draws my blood.  I know we live in a world were it is easy to let ourselves become incredibly self absorbed....but saying "thank you" to people is not going to rip our eye lids out.  Unless of course those people are Zombies.....

My challenge to you is to find people in your own life to thank tomorrow.  In all our lives we are know someone who washes our feet one way or another.  Acknowledge them.  Honor them.  Tell them not to sit cross legged on the coach is they don't want their feet to go numb.   

I am going to offer my gratitude to those incredible folks who work with my autistic child.  God bless them.






One another side note:

It has been over ten minutes and my foot still feels like it has 3009 needles poking it.  Man I am a sissy.  Magnum PI wouldn't complain about a dead foot in his blog entry.  Magnum's blog would probably be about how awesome his friend who flew the helicopter was or complaining because Higgins never let him have a party in the mansion.