Fine Cheap Fun

I’ve a couple of ideas for posts about topics like prenatal genetic testing, vaccines and more about vaccines, gestation and future health problems and the like but since it’s getting later in the evening (out here on the East Coast) I’m just going to reference an article from no less august a body than the Style section of last Sunday’s New York Times and specifically an article on how the economic crisis is affecting teens whose parents have never been able to say, no, you don’t need more Abercrombie. Given the near-constant talk about the “cost” of raising a special needs and specifically an autistic child, I just wanted to note that Charlie’s never been one for having anything that’s “the latest,” whether it’s clothing, electronics, tsotchkes to hang on his backpack, a particular style of sneaker. He’s easy-going about whatever he wears (not that my mom doesn’t make sure he’s well-attired) and honestly asks for little—ok, some Vietnamese spring rolls and a swim in the ocean but the former is good cheap eats and the latter, well, believe it or not, if you know where to go the ocean is still, indeed, free.

And watching Charlie swim in it beats all the razzle-dazzle fireworks of any gizmo peddled at the mall.