For the past few days, diversionary tactics have been the name of the game for Allen and me. Decorating the tree with Brenda was just what I needed. Her tree had a theme and is color coordinated to match the living room. My tree at home is a sentimental collection of thirty-two years worth of decorations which match nothing and make me cry when I take them out of their boxes.
Allen’s diversion was Facebook. Once he got past the culture shock of online social networking – along with the idea of iPods, iTunes and all sorts of technology that developed during his five years in the monastery – he made rapid progress. He set up and account and located numerous old high school and college friends. One of them gave him a crash course in Facebookology, and my son is now more proficient at it than I am.
We’re both ready for the diversions to end and the hard work of therapy to begin. Please pray for Allen as he begins. From all we’ve read, it will be emotionally exhausting and life-changing, so pray for his courage and strength to face what is ahead. Pray that I respond to him as a twenty-six-year-old man and provide the right mix of support and independence.
We leave Bowling Green around noon, with a 5 – 6 hour drive to Morgantown. The weather, which was snowy and windy yesterday, is calm and sunny today, and we’re glad. It’s a new week and a new adventure. Hi, ho Silver, away!
