Oh, so you're an only child?

So what, your parents decided you were too much of a handful, and decided to stop?

Or you were too wonderful, and decided to stop why they were ahead.

Jennifer was relating this conversation she was having with a sub. teacher today after I spoke about a colleague dealing with an abortion he and his wife chose to have after it became evident the baby would probably be born brain dead. And the type of blasts he's dealing with by well-meaning relatives and people , including the preverbial "it's the will of God."

They have one child now, a son, and will try again, but I got the feeling that they were both wondering if that might be their only child.

And then the questions come on from a society that always assumes you must have wanted it that way. Because who would want just one kid?

They just disappear

That was the comment as I dropped by daughter off at Auburn High School today.

Yesterday, I could tell she was shaken up, as an AHS student was killed in a headon collision. A friend of hers survived the crash.

But instead of watching American Idol last night (her dad and I ended up watching it and booing when Adam wasn't picked) she disappeared back in her room, and texted her friends, talking about Andrew and Darius.

"Mom," she said before I let her out for school. "They just disappear" when they're dead.

A boy from Auburn High School died last night

Car was going to fast, he may have been high, prob. not wearing a seat belt.

Andrew was known as a partier, apparently. His parents had kicked him out of the house for it. However, when they made the announcement over the loud speaker today, a girl in Jennifer's class - an ex-girlfriend of his, broke down and began sobbing.

Jennifer was just relieved that the passenger, Darius, who she did know well, survived...apparently because he was asleep.

"Maybe this will teach him NOT to party so much," Jennifer said.

I clucked sympathetically and then stressed again- if you're at a party or place and the ride home looks iffy (as in drunk or high) call us, day or night. No questions asked.

And it had me thinking again. Babies-you worry about crib death Toddlers-choking Elementary-bullies and getting snatched. Now she's a teen. Thankfully on a good path, not pregnant, doing well in school, good friends. I'm actually relieved she'll be able to drive next fall, relieving me of 10 years of pick-up-drop-off duty. And yet.

As Andrew (the kid who died) drilled home, foolish choices behind the wheel (I think he was street racing to impress a girl) can snatch all this away in an instant.