The 411

UPDATE: 4/19/9---THE TEX.REP MENTIONED IN THIS POST, WELL, HE MIRACULOUSLY CHANGED HIS MIND ABOUT SPONSORING MY BILL, AFTER I WAS DUMB ENOUGH TO PUT ALL OF MY EGGS IN ONE BASKET. YES, I WAS POLITELY INFORMED TWO DAYS BEFORE THEY WENT INTO SESSION...GOOD TIMES.
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So....what started out as a class assignment...over a year ago...has turned out to be a class assignment for this semester as well. (work smarter, not harder...right?)

Well....with all of the work that I was doing in creating a "dream law", or "dream policy change"...I kind of thought----well, why not? Why NOT pursue it as a real law, a real policy change, and hopefully make a REAL difference---not just a grade.

And the next thing I know, things are set into motion, and my hands are shaking, and I'm meeting with a Texas State Representative, trying to explain to him why we need tougher laws about leaving children unattended in cars.

About 5 minutes into it, he said "Stop. Stop right there. I can't hear any more horror stories about kids today."

My heart skipped a beat.

I just knew that he was about to kick me out of his office b/c he was just DONE with this.

Quite the opposite.

The next thing out of his mouth, "Sold. I'm going to sponsor this."

He also admitted that until contact with me, he just ASSUMED that it was illegal to leave your kids in the car. Ergo my entire point about the lack of education to the general public that we even HAVE a law about this.

So....that's the deal.
He's sponsoring my dream law, and it will honor my nephew....you know, if it passes. We discussed possible obstacles, some possible co-sponsors.... in the end he doesn't think it will be difficult to get it passed....AND, thanks to my strategerie (is that a word?) it will be going before the committee he vice-chairs.
I think it also hit home for him as a father of two young children. He has a son just a wee bit older than my nephew when he died.

I couldn't have asked for yesterday to go any better than it did.
After that, drove out to Rockwall & picked Gage up.
Ran to the grocery store for a cake & balloons for my sister. I chose blue & yellow for this cause. My nephew was blonde with blue eyes. Got cash for the tollway.
Drove ALL the way out to Frisco. I forgot how loooong of a drive that is...Surprised my sister & brother in law with the goodies.

You could not have peeled the smile off my face yesterday.

Until....5 o'clock traffic on I-30, a 3yo who had not taken a nap all day, and the adrenaline & endorphins were no longer pulsing through my veins in such large volumes like they had been earlier in the day. 5 o'clock is about the time I started to slow down...

When I got into bed last night, it took me a little bit to really unwind & relax. When I did....boy, was I ever exhausted. Just absolutely exhausted.

And maybe it's rude to say...I don't care at this point. I'm really proud of myself. This took a lot of hard work, and I did it. I know the bill hasn't passed yet, but so what? I'm done with the first step. What comes next? It will be filed by the state rep, and go through legislative council. They will assign a # to the bill, and then I can track it online. The rep has asked if I will be available this Spring...between February & April to come & give testimony supporting this bill.
You bet I will. If I have to rearrange Heaven & Earth, I will be there.