First of all, a great big huge thank you goes out to all of my Fan-freaking-tastic WordPress dudes that noticed my lack of lurking and messaged me to make sure I was okay. Dudes! I don’t even have the words to express how much that meant to me. For a large part of my life, I felt invisible, unwanted, part of the landscape. It still surprises me when I’m noticed, recognized or remembered. But, that’s a tangent we need not explore. So, again, THANKS DUDES!!! You totally rock!
The reason for my absence was medical in nature. It was nothing major, but enough to make me miserable. When I’m in an acute phase of a problem, I crawl into my cave (aka my bed) and, like an animal, lick my wounds. Well, not literally, but you get the idea. Also like an animal, I tend to snarl and snap at anyone who comes close. I prefer solitude in my misery.
I am feeling a little better. The acute phase has passed into the area of chronic. I’ll just add one more chronic complaint to the list of my body’s broken down stuff.
Now, on to the kitchen fire. Dear, sweet, wonderful, awesome King Ben was quietly watching a movie on the TV and random stuff on his tablet after school yesterday. I was lying down on my bed. Suddenly, I smell smoke. Hmmmm??? Both daughters are also home, could they be burning insence? Smudging? No, that’s bad smoke I smell. I jump up and go to the living room and am met with a room filled with smoke. The living room and kitchen are one big room. King Ben is coughing and looking around. I see that the side of my refrigerator is on fire. The calendar, the bills, the menus…the various things that wind up held on with magnets or tape, they’re all burning. Not smoldering. Not a little Burt. We’re talking FIRE! It’s also climbed up and jumped on to a few things sitting on top of the fridge. I yell “HELP” to the daughters, go to the sink an fill a pot up with water. I douse the biggest bunch of burning stuff, grab a couple things off the top and throw them to the floor, and go back for more water. The daughters have answered my call and King Ben’s mama takes him to sit down and check him for injuries. Younger daughter grabs her water bottle and starts dumping it over the stuff on the floor. I’ve gotten a second pot-full and dumped it on top and down the side of the fridge. It looks like we got it all, but we’re checking through to make sure.
Ben is fine. He didn’t get burned at all. I guess the Lady Liberty Beacon from the first Madagascar movie gave him the idea to set a fire of his own. Can I get an OY VEY?! Yeah, he likes to re-enact scenes from movies. It’s one of his autism things. Another of his autism things is being very, very sensitive to moods. If he senses someone is angry he goes off. He can handle stern, just not anger. So we had to explain to him in a calm, stern, loving tone of voice that fire is very dangerous. Fire can hurt. We know fire is pretty to look at, but he must never make a fire without one of us with him. We did awesome, if I do say so myself! We put out the fire and handled the little arsonist with good results. Plus, I think the fire scared the crap out of him. I hope so!
So, I was hiding in my cave for a few days with medical stuff. I was feeling better yesterday, then Ben lit the fridge on fire. Yep, that about sums it up.
I’m coming back to lurk again. I doubt I’ll be able to go back and read everything I’ve missed. I still have a bunch of stuff I need to do this week while Ben is at school. When he’s home, all attention must be paid to him. OBVIOUSLY!
Thanks again for being the best dudes ever!
King Ben's Grandma 
You are back!!!!! I’ve been thinking whether or not to drop a note but in case you were busy or sick, I wanted to give you some space and wait a few more days to see if you have any updates. I’m glad you’re back! 💪👏 😍 😘 😗 😙 😚💛 💚 💙 💜 🌺 🌸 🌼 🌻
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I’m most of the way back.😋 I have a bunch of stuff (life stuff, boooorrrrring) to take care of this week, so I may be spotty.😂🐆
I can’t stay away from my “family” too long. I miss all you dudes when I’m away.
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I didn’t check my email for days either… I was deep in my cave of woes😷
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Oh dear, in my hurry to leave a reply, I missed the part about the fire… thank goodness everyone is safe, I hope no one is traumatised. How are the four-legged doing? 🐶 🐱
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The cat was outside, the dog just wandered around eating the chips that fell on the floor. He is the Biggest. Dumbest. Dog! It was pretty small, but it could’ve gotten out of hand quickly.
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😂😂😂
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I was worried about you! Sorry you were not feeling well – I hope you continue to feel a bit better!
Fire! Yikes! Declan reenacts what he sees, but thankfully the scariest thing he has reenacted was putting his tablet into a pool of water (because you know someone on youtube has done it – and Declan watched it). And that was just scary because – then he didn’t have a tablet to watch youtube on 🙂 Until Christmas came, at least. Glad you are back! 🙂
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Thanks! Yeah, YouTube I expect random, weird stuff but Disney/Pixar/DreamWorks… I look at all these movies differently now. I mean, a lot of them had some adult humor mixed in here or there, but… He just doesn’t understand the difference between what he can do and what animated characters can do.
Of course, many a NT (almost) 10year old has set fire to things. 😋
I didn’t want to pay the gas & electric bill anyway😂
I guard Ben’s tablet better than he does, because he’ll just take my phone if his tablet gets lost or broken. Little Tyrant😂😂😂
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That’s true! There is a lot of stuff in those movies that is extreme and it must be hard to differentiate. Gosh, that must have been scary to see all those flames! I don’t like those bills either 🙂 I watched D’s tablet go in the water like it was in slow motion – I had told him repeatedly that it wouldn’t work if it got wet – and he was soooo angry/sad when it wouldn’t work (because it did for the guy on youtube!)
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Cause and effect are definitely difficult for Ben to grasp. And of course YouTube is the all knowing/all see/final word…forget pausing, editing, post production… If it’s on YouTube, take it to the bank.
But, my goodness, can you imagine how much you would miss him being distracted? And YouTube has EVERYTHING. I’m constantly amazed at the search ideas Ben comes up with, and sure enough, there’s a video or twenty.
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I’m glad you’re feeling better. I’m sorry I didn’t message you myself. I did think of it, but I was worried my antics out in the real world (my arrest, etc.) had alienated you, and I wanted to give you space. You’ve been incredibly supportive, and I want you to know that I care about you too!
Welcome back! 🙂
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Awww, thanks dude! No worries. I actually didn’t know about your little field trip 😂 but even so… that’s your life. You gotta be you. It would take some behavior I think you’d find equally abhorrent (joining the KKK, verbally/physically attacking LGBTQIA people, etc) to push me away. And I’d let you know that, again, you gotta be you, I can’t agree with those thoughts/feelings/actions… Ya know?
I will be honest with you. I value honesty very highly, so I use it with others.
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That’s a great value to have, and I definitely share it. 🙂
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Yep. I can relate. I remember when my son decided to re-enact Toy Story’s Woody character. My husband was on the phone, I wasn’t home, andrew snuck out the gate and lay down in the middle of our street waiting for a car to stop for him. Ugh! My husband heard stuff out front and found him. Luckily no one was hurt.
These kids w Autism take everything literally!!!
Stupid Movie writers.
Glad Ben is ok. Feel better and hide those lighters.
Teri
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Lighters, knives, keys to the double key deadbolts, rocks, bricks… Maybe I can just get yards and yards of bubble wrap and turn him into a great big bubble wrap ball. Maybe I can even paint it purple & tell him that he’s Violet Beauregard from Willie Wonka😂😂
We’re honestly quite lucky that in his almost ten years, he’s only had to go to ER one time. He was around 2-3 years and nearly amputated his finger tip in between a bike chain & gear. Twelve stitches! Twelve stitches in a toddler finger tip.😧😱😢 still, we were lucky.
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Omg. Lucky happy ending! That’s great quick thinking on your part.
When you mentioned calendar and lists burning my first thought was ‘I hope she has an electronic version or she’ll be lost’. I realize how idiotic this sounds but this is me we’re talking about…lol
I’m sure you’ll manage just fine without, or with new, lists and calendars. 🙂
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The calendar was one of MANY scattered around the house, and of course, everything is in my phone. Losing my phone would be horrible beyond imagining… This calendar mainly had everybody’s work schedule on it. I certainly don’t regret the loss of the utility bills 😂 although I’m sure they’ll make me pay anyway😕😂 and the lists were mostly stuff we need to buy… groceries, pet food…a new calendar😂😂😂
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LOL. 🙂
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Sorry to hear you’ve been unwell – I too have been away from WordPress with a bad back and general busyness. Well done on handling the fire so calmly – scary stuff! 🙂
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I’m on the mend, thanks🌻
I’m usually absolutely calm in the middle of a crisis. As soon as it’s over is when I fall to pieces. I guess that’s a good thing?
I hope you’re feeling better. I’m only just 50, but my body feels nearer 90, and my brain is 12 on some days (fart jokes and whatnot) and 30 on others.
I’m certainly a mess, that’s for sure!! 😂💌💌
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I’m nearing 50 and hate to think my body is beginning to have signs of wear and tear. Hopefully our younger thinking brains will serve us well! 🙂
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