@Emily - the "back" button only works to get to the main page if that's the last place you've been. If, for example, I'm following a particular thread & get email notification, and follow the email link to the thread, then "back" won't work. And, often, I'll follow the email & decide that while I'm here, I might as well see what else is being discussed on forum.

Hope you are doing well. When you do talk to your son again, make sure you tell him you love him and are concerned about him. Sometimes we forget to state the obvious and sometimes folks really need to hear it. That may be especially true of someone who seems like he is critical and needing a lot of attention. I wouldn't press the issue, you buy might inquire about things outside the family -- work, friends, the world in general. Maybe have a philosophical discussion (if that works with you and your DS) about life -- hopes, dreams, worries, and try to make it about him and the world, not him and family. Maybe there's a conection? If he is an engineer and perfectionist, could there be things at work that are beyound his control that are causing stress that doesn't have another outlet -- like kids who stress at school and explode on their parents about any little thing when they get home, just a grown up version. Are there any fears about layoffs? Is he not happy with the work he's doing? Anything he might be afraid of? Is he the sole bread winner? Is that causing him a lot of stress - especially if he's worried about his job or feeling unsatisfied in his career. Maybe focussing on him a bit will let him open up and express some things that might help resolve some tension. May or may not solve the relationship, but the underlying issue here is that you are concerned about your son. You don't feel like he is acting like himself and that is causing other issues. Again, let him know you love him and you are concerned about him. Sounds like he has seen a doctor, but that doesn't rule out any medical issues. Doctors only know what they see and what they are told in a short window of time. You know what was reviewed loooked fine. That's a snapshot. If the doctor isn't told more, they don't know to look deeper. I've never known a doctor to look for any mental issues if they weren't pressing questions. Questions most folks would rather avoid. Just keep that in the back of your mind. Take care of yourself, and I wish you all the best.

Thank you Rosesstink. I think you are right about that. The more I do it, the easier it will become. I have to admit that it was much easier since I brought my iPod and listened to Dan Fogelberg all the way. His music soothes my soul and calms my heart. On the way back I couldn't get it to work until I left Des Moines. I couldn't believe that I missed that the Belkin thing wasn't completely plugged into the iPod! The rest of my trip home was much calmer. Wow! I'm Happy and I know It, I didn't realize we were both from eastern Iowa. That will always be home to me. We were not far enough north to be across from Dubuque, but plan on traveling further later this month if I get a chance to go. I have to work around our grandsons schedule and go on days he's with his mom two days in a row. Thank you Ellende. I was very happy that I made the trip too. It was good for all involved. Even my other cousins and bested friend were touched by my coming home for Jeannie. All who know her love her and were happy to see her so happy. I'm a changed person after seeing how strong she is in her day to day living with cancer and knowing her time is limited. Not that all our time isn't limited, but when your body is as ravaged by disease and chemo as hers, you know your limits are a lot closer than you'd like. Riosamba, thank you so much for the comment about the picture of us. I love it so much. Jeff took one of us in March too and it shows how that last round of chemo aged Jeannie. As happy as I was being with Jeannie, I think the picture taken recently shows a difference in me too. Those six months were pure hell worrying about her. Each time the phone rang and it was Jeff, I was afraid to answer. Now that I've seen her strength building since chemo has stopped I'm comforted in how better she feels. We tried to tell her, but with the help of chemo brain, (it really screws up ones thinking and memory) she thought stopping it was giving up. SheilaAus, thank you for checking in and commenting. I wasn't sure about posting more about Jeannie, as I didn't want to bore anyone with so many posts, but when I saw the thread about traveling, I thought I'd share. I'm glad I did.

This is a good paper on distracted driving and why hands free are no better than handhelds. Drivers talking on cell phones make more driving errors than drivers talking with passengers. Drivers are more likely to drift out of lanes and miss exits than drivers talking with passengers. Why? Adult passengers often actively help drivers by monitoring and discussing traffic.37 Passengers tend to suppress conversation when driving conditions are demanding.38, 39 Although some studies found that passengers did not reduce conversation distraction, so research evidence is mixed.40 Talking on cell phones has a different social expectation because not responding on a cell phone can be considered rude. In addition, callers cannot see when a driving environment is challenging and cannot suppress conversation in response.41, 42 Passengers can see the roadway and may moderate the conversation.43, 44 Listening to music does not result in lower response time, according to simulator studies. But when the same drivers talk on cell phones, they do have a slower response time. Researchers have concluded that voice communication influenced the allocation of visual attention, while low and moderate volume music did not.45 This discussion does not mean that listening to music or talking with passengers is never distracting. Loud music can prevent drivers from hearing emergency sirens, and cognitive processing can lead to a decrement in vehicle control.46 Some conversations with passengers can be distracting to drivers.47 Any task that distracts a driver should be avoided.