Freeways

We're already becoming overly familiar with the route between here and there. Today was the third round-trip we've made in 4 days. We have a series of classes; visits; etc. all carefully orchestrated. And logistically challenging - we're at least an hour away and that's if there's absolutely no backups or traffic of any kind. Which of course so rarely happens.

Today we were pretty 'on track' - though it felt (and was) a bit rushed. There were major slowdowns for a pretty good chunk of the drive and as usual, I stress out over timing....not wanting to be late for our first 'family' meeting (which is with family members of the kids in treatment - the kids do not attend. Just the adults in their lives). Slow downs all along the way. We were briefly distracted by the site of a brand new Lamborghini - still had the dealer plates on it from Orange County. It was hard to miss with bright yellow coloring and some kind of 'intake vents' along the side. What a sight - and since H. has always loved that car, we tried to snap a picture of it for him. Silly - but I did manage to get part of it from the window as it zoomed by.

Shortly after that picture, after the Lambo had sped off to freeways unknown, I saw something alive skittering across the freeway....and totally freaked out. Said 'it's an animal' and watched as all the other cars in the other lanes slowed - and the poor car just to the right of us froze in it's tracks as the creature came to rest just in front of their car. It was right about then we noticed what it was - A FISH! It had apparently splashed out of an ice chest - landed on the freeway - and 'flopped' across several lanes of traffic. I can't tell you how relieved I felt upon realizing it was a fish. I don't know what that says about me - I mean, fish are God's creatures as much as anything else - but I was so relieved to not be witnessing the death of a 4-legged creature. A fish! Flopping across traffic! It was somewhat amusing - and a good 'stress relief'. We can use all the stress relief we can get at this point.

We arrived in time for the family meeting; met with the counselor that will be 'our' counselor (for the three of us plus H.) during H.'s stay there; and then went upstairs to visit H. Poor guy - all the other parents had already headed upstairs to visit and we were still in the basement of the building meeting with the counselor. He was (seemed) happy to see us - at least happy to know we had not failed to show up - or had shown up and left without seeing him. As if. We arrived with the piles of things he needed and had failed to pack for himself - the kid packed NO underwear. They called us to let us know they were buying a package for him - and he told us today they did buy him some, but they were 'tighty whiteys' and he told the person 'um, thanks, but no way. Not wearing those'. Which essentially means he's been wearing the same pair of boxers for the last 3 days....boys will be boys.

We continue to feel he's in good hands and in the best place possible. But as we were reminded today, he is there for an incredibly short time (relative to making any confirmed progress towards dealing with his addiction) - and we struggle with that. Sure, he can end up there again - should he end up in trouble legally, he could be assigned to live there for some time. But we're there as 'hospital' patients, essentially - a short-term stay which will give him intensive therapy and counseling - but it's only 30 days. We're hopeful - but realistic. As they've instructed us to be. Hard to know what to hope for.....just hope, I guess. Hope for hopes sake - that's something.

I celebrated my 50th yesterday by going to the doctor, who took a look and said 'um, antibiotic shot NOW, with 10 days of the same antibiotic in pill form and uh, just a suggestion, but you might try to actually rest for a bit'. So I did. Still so far from NOT having the district's budget done, it's ridiculous - but I came home 'early' (worked 1/2 day) and slept most of the day. AND totally throwing caution to the wind again today, I have not worked. Yet. There's still 5 hours in the 'day' so we'll see. Then again, I'm exhausted and thinking that going to bed really early (now) would be great and I can hit the work hard tomorrow - 24 hours in every day and it will get done. It will......OH YES IT WILL.

We make the trip again on Tuesday - classes for all three of us together -