10 to 143: I lose (big).

I don't typically see activities as contests. In fact, I don't ever see anything from that perspective- even when it certainly is, is pointed out or I am told of it. Perhaps because I usually and flatly refuse to participate in comparisons and contests or be measured in such a way. I am the only one who can measure my adequacy (or failure).

I have not written on this page for months and every day over the those past months I have felt guilty about not writing, not having anything interesting to say and not wanting to talk to anyone. Granted, the previous year has been horrible beyond what I have words to describe. Not entirely and or thoroughly but in a very significant way that is completely unrelated to my familly, my writing or much of anything else. Yet it's effect has been the equivalent of a tectonic shift in my habits, disposition and free time.

Writing is an odd hobby. As well, I do not know it as one that I can force to occur. Either I have something to say - or not. When I don't, then writing is torture. Since I have not wanted to add another awful task to my plate, I have not written much of anything. For that I am sorry. But the anticipation of writing again was always with me. Silent, dormant hope.

Yesterday something happened that instantly made me understand without a doubt that I would be writing again very soon. My son said, 'Let me check my stats." It was that simple.
I have been writing this and another blog for literally years. I do not write them for notoriety or for consequence. I write them because I like to write. Never the less, I do (once in a while) look at my 'stats' to see how many people view what I have written; offer some sort of comment or simply stop by and read for a while. People come from all over the globe! For this I am eternally grateful and gleefully happy. Typically only a few people stop or 'click' on my blog page and I am so thrilled that someone other than my immediate family member and myself read these paragraphs that I do not mind that the number is almost always pretty low. (Let's put it this way; ten would be a big day.)
Still, I love writing my blogs.

A few days ago, my oldest son sent me a link . . . to his own blog page. He was spending Spring Break at his Dad's; busy texting me that he was bored. Amid the texts was his link and there opened a brand new page. Newly formed. Hours old. Only three short days old when I first saw it. My son loves the weather so I was not surprised at all to find that it had to do with weather or that it was organized, clear, easy to read or that locating specific information was elegantly simple.
What did surprise me was the complexity and sophistication that existed within his blog - immediately. His blog was just three days old yet light years ahead of me with respect to his ability to connect it to those readers who would be most interested. His posts are supported by both the local television station as well as the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Yes, that NOAA!!
His stats for yesterday: 143 views!!! Three days old and he's getting 143 clicks!!!
This! From my Autistic son who it has been said, " . . . lacks the ability to communicate well"!!
How? How is he lacking - exactly. Because I don't see the problem.

I cannot say that I am surprised. Yet, I am stunned and even more perplexed as to why this is my reaction. How could I not have expected this or any less from him? When it comes to technology and the weather, my son simply cannot be beat. These are his two best skills as well as his favorite activities and interests. Combine them and I am sure that the sky is not even close to his limit.

Yesterday when my son said, "Let me check my stats" in the middle of a conversation about something entirely unrelated, I was not prepared to lose in such a big way and by such an overwhelming margin. I was completely blindsided by his effortless success. Once again, I should have known better. If he just weren't so darn nonchalant about the whole thing it would be easier to take. I feel as though I put actual work into my blog pages and his simply flow from his as easily as a quiet exhale amid an entire night's sleep after a long and boring day.

If you live in the Dallas/Ft. Worth area and need to know what the day's weather will bring, please visit his blog page at the following address www.stormwatchdallas.com Or, you can like him on Facebook at Storm Watch Dallas. Either way - it's great. I am very impressed. I hope you will be too.

It's SO cool!!! And I am so proud of him.