At one time getting the car ready for a summer trip might be the most important thing you could do. Still important? Ok, sure. You know to check tires, service radiators, check the fan belts and hoses, and the car probably needs a tune up. Got it.

So you would head to the dealer, a Firestone store, Walmart or whatever wonderful service center you knew about or lived closest to. You drove in, told them what you think you needed and they quietly smirked to themselves. Then you signed the work order, headed to the waiting area and hung out until they found you and told you what you really needed. Rarely, if ever, did the two match.

That was the primary vacation preparations then. Now?  Now it’s update apps, update software, and purchase whatever it is you think you need to make travel more fun and entertaining.

Need a new phone? No. But this is as good an excuse as any to get one.

Then add:

Selfie Stick

Bluetooth headset

Phone stand

Mobile security program

Wireless router

Battery backup

Solar charger

Duplicate cords

Oooooohhhhhh!! Don’t forget:

Yes, that was a purely self-serving action. That said, look at the link to the right. Okay, that was purely self-serving too. Sorry.

There are things we need to tell our kids – these are a few of them

Parents always worry that their kids aren’t learning all the things that they will need to know to plow through this life with a modicum of happiness, security, and peace. In the interest of saving the planet from the unknowing, I have come up with a short, partial list of just such things. It’s not a complete list, or even a good one but it’s the one I have at the moment. And in case you’re wondering what this has to do with the topic of this blog, go back and look at the title. It’s just all of us.

Things your kids should absolutely, positively know

1. Be nice to your sister or brother, they know where the bones are buried

2. A trademark does not always = quality

3. Sometimes it’s about you and sometimes it isn’t; know the difference

4. Taste is not an absolute

5. The world’s most important people are rarely ever late

6. Apologize when you need to

7. Be involved in life

8. Brush your teeth (those kissing you will appreciate it)

9. If the dog looks mean leave the thing alone

10. If the cat looks mean leave the thing alone

11. If the person looks mean leave the thing alone

12. Don’t buy an ugly car

13. Don’t buy a car just because it’s not ugly

14. Numbers 12 and 13 above could be said for pretty much anything else you buy

15. Take a vacation at least once a year – it will help you be a better person

16. Don’t go to the same old place when you do take those vacations – explore the world, it’s very cool

17. Try new foods

18. Listen to new music

19. Make a new friend, but never forget your old ones

20. Call someone every day who is not expecting a call. And that means call; a text is great, a voice can sometimes stop a suicide

21. When there are warning signs, believe them

22. Buy the insurance; it will save you money some day

23. Don’t buy more insurance than you need – a lot of people waste an awful lot of money this way (especially the elderly)

24. Consumer Reports is a valuable magazine to read

25. Go to the original source – a good thing to remember for all of life itself

26. Never believe gossip

27. But while you’re busy not believing gossip, don’t close your eyes to the obvious

28. Kiss someone under the stars

29. Do number 28 more than once – you’re life will be much better

30. Remember that work isn’t everything

31. Remember that work is not a bad thing

32. Don’t come up with childish or vulgar email addresses – they make you look silly which is never good when you go job-hunting

33. Use social media to your advantage rather than someone else’s

Okay, there you have a few things that every parent should tell their kids; important, worthwhile, crucial things.  And it’s even better if you tell them while you’re with them, having fun.

Cue fireworks:  Disabled Literature by Wendy Chung, Alijandra Mogilner, Svetlana Zakinova and, yes, yours truly, is now available.  Twenty years in the research and writing, Disabled Literature examines how authors have used characters with disabilities to elicit emotional reactions in readers; additionally, how writers use disabilities to present individuals as “the other” rather than simply as people. Finally, the book discusses how literature has changed, or is changing, with regards to its presentation of those with a disability.

Is this news? Probably not; we all know evil Captain Hook in Peter Pan with the hook in place of a hand. We know Tiny Tim with the crutches. We know Forrest Gump and we certainly know Raymond in Rain Man. We get it, we understand being manipulated but agree to it so we can feel the fear, feel the pity, feel something while we read and are entertained. Isn’t feeling something from literature one of the points? Unfortunately, depending on the character, on the plot, the setting, sometimes we lose something.  Sometimes we lose just a bit of humanity.

Disabled Literature is now available from these retailers:

Amazon:

http://www.amazon.com/Disabled-Literature-Examination-Disabilities-Contemporary/dp/1627345302/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1435679663&sr=1-1&keywords=miles+beauchamp

Barnes and Noble:

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/disabled-literature-miles-beauchamp/1122161660?ean=9781627345309

Universal Publishers:

http://www.universal-publishers.com/book.php?method=ISBN&book=1627345302

Yes, it took a great deal of time to write Disabled Literature. Yes, we thought we’d go crazy sometimes through all the research. Would we do it again? In a flat minute.