It Gets Better

I was drawn into the search for a suicidal 17 year-old boy yesterday. At the time, I didn't know that he had left a note for his parents telling them he was going to step in front of a train. All I had was a father asking me if I had seen a teen aged boy in a dark coat. When I asked if the boy was okay, and his father said he hoped so, I considered myself a recruit. For more than an hour, I wandered the railroad tracks, the riverbank and some hiking trails. I didn't know any details, but I knew that I was looking for someone's baby. Someone's baby who was suffering. Someone's baby who needed to know that It Gets Better. No matter what. It Gets Better.

Luckily, this boy gets a chance to learn that. No trains were running on our local line yesterday due to scheduled maintenance. An alert friend told the boy's parents their son was making ominous threats. Astute railroad workers were able to give police sightings and timelines. He was eventually reunited with his parents and is now getting a chance to receive help for his problems.

I know that It Gets Better started in the wake of the recent suicides as a result of ignorance and bullying of gay, lesbian and transgender teens, but I think it applies to all of us. Gay, straight, bi, white, black, green, purple. All of us. Take the time to look around you. Notice people. Everybody travels this journey with their own set of concerns. Some have problems that they feel are insurmountable. Especially children. Take some time to let them know: It Gets Better.

Life is short and we never have enough time for gladdening

the hearts of those who travel the way with us.

Oh, be swift to love! Make haste to be kind!

Henri Frederic Amiel

Tuesday Text: Parentexting™

The one where my baby boy comes home for an overnight visit, and I get to see him for an hour. And that was because I made him go out to brunch.

In his defense, college is hard this semester:

He has had many obligations and missions:
And when he and his adorable friends met me for brunch on Sunday, he dropped his phone. Like all other 19 year-olds, this phone is his lifeline. It was not pretty:

The ensuing table banter went something like this:

Augie: I need you to understand that not only is my screen shattered, my life is now shattered.

Mental P: [Could not respond because she was trying not to wet her pants and shoot water out her nose due to guffawing activity.]

I guess there's one holiday list I can stop wondering about. The end.

Monday!!!

I'm feeling all energized this snowy Monday morning. Yes, I happily said snowy and Monday in the same sentence. Because, look. ☟☟☟☟☟☟☟☟

Daily Overview for November 8, 2010

Aquarius

1/20 – 2/18

Quickie

If you encounter new people today, you'll have a distinct advantage over them.

Yahoo horoscopes here

And to top it all off:

You Are 8% Abnormal

You are at low risk for being a psychopath. It is unlikely that you have no soul. You are at low risk for having a borderline personality. It is unlikely that you are a chaotic mess. You are at low risk for having a narcissistic personality. It is unlikely that you are in love with your own reflection. You are at low risk for having a social phobia. It is unlikely that you feel most comfortable in your mom's basement. You are at low risk for obsessive compulsive disorder. It is unlikely that you are addicted to hand sanitizer.

How Abnormal Are You?

Blogthings: Discover the Parts of Your Personality that Have Been Hiding

Seriously. It's going to be a great day. I can just tell. How 'bout you?

Got Weekend Plans?

I do....

This-n-That Thursday

Utter nonsense:

• A sick dog can break your heart.
• On Monday, the foliage was near perfect. On Wednesday? It was gone.
• When it rains, I feel like I need to organize things on my desk.
• If you need a tiara, you should go here.
• It's raining today, so I suppose my office will be sparkling by noon.
• We apparently have two governors here in Connecticut.
• Is anybody else getting porn spam in their Facebook message box?
• My college sophomore daughter received an invitation for an American Express Gold Card in the mail yesterday. I shredded it.
• Is there anything better than that first turtleneck of the season? Wait. I can answer that. Yes, the first flip flops of Spring.
• The Housewives of Beverly Hills? Priceless.
• Regis and Kelly? Done.
• I suffer from Psychosomatic Itching Syndrome. And, yes, I just made that up.
• How many books-in-waiting on a nightstand is too many?
• I wish I could earn money procrastinating. I'd be on the Forbes 100 list.

Do you have any nonsense to add? Please?

Post-Halloween Still Life

Just shoot me.

Tuesday Text: Parentexting™

A Halloween tragedy for my Baby Bird. Her Driving Tiara was "borrowed" permanently.

I forgot to follow up on this disaster when I talked to her yesterday. Must remember to do so today....

I don't know how she'll drive now. Oh the worries I have....