Haven’t blogged in a while … been busy selling a house and buying a house and all that kind of fun stuff. But I’m going to get back into it. Charity work is what I love to do and this is my outlet.
Three preliminary things:
1. This is what Operation Jack is, why I even have a site. Hint: It has to do with autism, which I hate, because it sucks and it ruined my kid. Yes, I said it. It’s true. I don’t accept it.
2. OPERATION JACK MARATHON. <— check it out. It’s for a great cause and it has my son’s name on it! I love it!
3. I don’t really have a third thing. But I had to say I did. It goes with the them and the alliteration and all that jazz.
1. I HAVE MY LIFE BACK!
I moved away from my family on March 15, because we relocated to Pennsylvania to get better services for our son Jack, my 9 1/2-year-old who is severely autistic. When we decided on Philly, I started looking for jobs and found one (the first night I started looking!) so I had to hit the road. I lived with one of my best friends and his family, but that’s not my family and I really missed my family.
Well, I bought a house that my wife had never seen and after going through escrow and settlement and moving and painting and all that kind of “fun” stuff, they arrived in Philly on a flight from LA at 7:01 p.m. on July 14. You KNOW I was counting down to that! Now I have the chaos that keeps me sane again. Jack’s meltdowns, Ben and Ava fighting, Tiff nagging me … it’s life as I know it. I truly feel that things are pretty challenging for us with Jack’s problems, but it’s my life and I accept it and I’m glad to have it back.
2. I’M GOING TO TRY THIS “RUNNING” THING AGAIN
I enjoy running for a variety of reasons — partially the quiet time it gives me in the morning and also a way to compete with myself. And of course, it’s been a great way for me to fight autism (1 Peter 4:10). I’ve let life get in the way, and that’s fine, because I need to have priorities. But I like running the Boston Marathon every year. I really enjoy the course and the event. I’ve run it the past six years and I’m hoping to make it seven. But I’m not in shape and I don’t have a lot of time. I know my body pretty well — I’ve run 105 marathons so I’m getting the hang of it — and I know I have my work really cut out for me. I have a race I’m eyeing on September 8. If I can get in BQ shape by then (I need to run a sub-3:10), I’ll never fall out of shape by then. Well, that’s not true. But I’ll be pretty happy.
3. CHECK OUT THE OPERATION JACK MARATHON!
The Operation Jack Marathon and satellite runs are back for the fourth year. It’s a great event in the Los Angeles area the day after Christmas, plus we have events all over the country on December 28. The main race in California is put on to benefit Train 4 Autism and the satellite runs benefit local charities. We have events in Portland (Oregon and Maine), Kansas City, Alabama … shoot, I don’t know all the spots. I’m battling some kind of bug right now and I can’t hardly think. But if you want to do something to benefit a local autism charity in your area, EMAIL ME and let me know. I’ll give you ideas and support you in your efforts. Your participants will get shirts, medals, Starbucks and a feeling that they’ve done something good to help. And it’s pretty affordable. Drop me a line and we’ll figure something out.
OK, that’s it. 1, 2, 3. That’s all. Wait, it’s Thursday, right?
Samantha says
We miss seeing jack and your family out and about in Foothill Ranch.