In reference to my posting last fall

Here's my post from last fall.

An old, but still funny, joke

Administrators, IEPs, Lent

My son has Asperger's Syndrom. It's an Autistic Spectrum Disorder. He's mainstreamed in school, gets As and Bs in his academics, no aide but a few accomodations. Every year we go through a process called an IEP (Individualized Education Plan) meeting to discuss his progress this school year and his goals and services for the next. Yesterday was that meeting.

Normally it's a meeting that has 30 minutes of information shoved into two hours of sitting around. This year was no different. Everybody had great words to say about him, praised his work ethic and his great attitude (he loves going to school). He has worked so hard over the last 10 years that I come to tears whenever I really sit and think about it. He has a heart of gold. We are certainly blessed.

This year the program administrators suggested, lightly, that it is getting harder to justify keeping him in the program. We were at once shocked and overjoyed. Shocked that we could be losing services and overjoyed in that he seems to be winning. The words are still sinking in and I'm still smiling.

As if to punctuate the statement he drove it home again. Last night before church he was working in the kitchen for service hours for his God and Country Award. I was not in the kitchen as I had a separate meeting to attend too. Several people came out and told me he was a joy to work with and a hard worker to boot.

During church we were discussing a play put on by the confirmation class. My boy expressed wisdom beyond his years when he contributed to the discussion. Who knew he was listening! Seems like I cry easily lately because I was certainly on the verge there too. I guess I need to stop underestimating the wisdom of children; or at least stop crying about it.

Interesting morning

I was sitting at a stop light this morning just west of beautiful, but over built, Plainfield, IL; four or five cars back from the light. Suddenly I see a black flash cross the intersection, slide off the road, take out a light post and crash into some small trees just off the shoulder. Not cool.

The light turned green so I pulled through the intersection and stopped to go see if I could help. The young man was walking around so I called 911, grabbed my first aid kit, and walked over. He said he was belted in and his air bag had deployed. No blood, nothing obviously borken. So far so good. Then he started getting pale.

I finally got him sitting and wrapped in an extra jacket, when the hood of his car, and the trees lying on it, burst into flames. Would have made a nice fire for S'mores :). He got really pale, but that's when the police, fire and paramedics all showed up. Probably 3 or 4 minutes after I called at the most.

So, a little adrenaline rush for me this morning. And a few observations:

1. Even if your just running out for a few minutes, this is still Northern Illinois. TAKE A COAT. The kid was dressed in a light jogging suit and tennis shoes. If he had been somewhere more remote or at night he'd have been in trouble.

2. Think about keeping emergency supplies in your vehicle just in case you have the opportunity to help somebody else. I didn't need my first aid kit was sure was glad I had it.

3. Where your safety belt! Even if your just running out for a few minutes!

4. The road conditions weren't bad this morning. Not sure if it was black ice or stupid cell phone tricks that caused the accident. But, pay attention!