He shows up at our house every Tuesday........ He has long hair........... There's a guitar strapped to him....... He has a goatee......... There has probably been some marajuana use............ He's the epitome of "free spirit"...........

His name is CHAZ and he is the Rock's drum instructor.

I've always had this "thing" for drummers. In high school and college I was on the dance team - we had to practice with the band. Somehow I always got in trouble for migrating over to the drum section. I don't know. I just thought they were "cool".

So when Rock showed an interest in playing the drums, I was beyond thrilled. We hooked up with a local music therapist - CHAZ - and got started. As you know from previous posts - the kid's got some skillz.

As soon as he sees the beat up maroon Honda pull up in our driveway he starts hopping up and down like a jackrabbit at the front door and opens it for Chaz. They sing with the guitar at first and then warm up with a little Black Eyed Peas.

Last week at his lesson, "Mista Chazzzzzzzzz" (as Rock calls him) called me in to listen. Chaz picked up the sticks and knocked out the rythmn. When he was done the Rock says "oooooooooh, that was nasty!"

After Chaz and I picked ourselves up off the floor from laughing (where did he come up with that observation anyway?) Rock played the beat back perfectly. His new thing is - he won't play unless I am in the room videotaping him. So most of the time I sit in on his lesson and pretend to record him with my phone. For all he knows I have hours and hours of home movies for our video enjoyment now. I'm a great faker. And I have lots of advil.....

Playing drums helps with all different aspects of his autism - his handwriting and coordination have improved since he started and it gives him somewhere to focus his energy besides beating the crap out of his little brother. Now when he's worked up about something - he goes and beats the crap out of his drum set. I feel a new set showing up on the mastercard bill soon.............

Who knows where this will take him - maybe he'll be in the marching band or a tattooed Rockstar with multiple peircings and groupies. Either one is fine with me as long as he's happy.

Play that nasty beat Rock!!!