Friday the 13th

Maybe I am being punished today for taking off two days in the middle of the week. But here at the Defender's, it has felt like Friday the 13th with a vengeance. Today I learned that two of my clients have run away - one of whom I was just in court with on Tuesday, who I have been in regular contact with, who shares my birthday, and who was (seemingly) on track for great things. Another client went nuts at her mom's house, smashing windows, the whole bit. Another client, a little 10 year old boy with serious behavior and mental health problems, is being blocked from getting to the placement he needs because his mother, who DEFINTILEY has mental health issues but is in total denial, won't sign him in. And the icing on the cake came this afternoon when I learned that another client, a severely medically needy kid, died in his placement at the end of last December, and no one bothered to let me know. NICE.

But you know what? It's a brilliant Spring day, it's almost five o'clock, and I am going to spend my evening getting loud in the living room with U2 on the stereo. The boys always arrive at just the right time. I am sure that all the tears I wanted to shed today at work will flow freely tomorrow night at the Wachovia Center.

Expect a full report to follow.