"Eh, I'm Gonna to Risk it"

It's Friday and while life is shifting gears for most households in America, in my house we haven't gotten the memo.  We are gearing up for band practice.  My two oldest daughters and their band are performing at a benefit concert tomorrow.  We are trying to sneak in prom dress shopping for another daughter.  Driving people to school plays, work, and setting up the pool, it's getting hot here in the Central Valley. 

But at 8:00pm that is all going to come to a stretching halt.  We'll stop what we're doing and all 9 of us will gather in the living room to watch The Finder on Fox.

Who ever said that ADHD was caused by watching too much television has never visited our house.  Here 7 out of the 9 occupant are severely ADHD/ADD, we have one child who isn't.  Usually she and I are the only ones in the house that can just sit and watch a show.  Everyone else wanders in and out, reads while watching the show, draws, jumps in circles, gives running commentary on something totally unrelated, you get the picture.  So, to find a show that meets our family standards and can hold everyone's attention is pretty amazing.

The Finder is that show.

A little something for everyone - there is a bit of mystery, action, drama, romance, and a lot of humor.  Our 13 year old son loves it so much that when we were saying family prayer he thanked God for, "The Finder on Fox on Thursdays at 9:00pm."  That's was when its air time was then.  I suppose he was trying to be very clear with God, this son is very precise, has a bit of OCD with his ADHD.  Now it is on Fox on Fridays at 8:00pm PST.

However, I think that the reason we are so endeared to the show as a family is the main character Walter Sherman, played by Geoff Stults.  Walter Sherman has a gift for finding things that are lost.  The plot revolves around people seeking him out in need of this amazing skill.  His amazing skills stem from his amazing brain and the way he uses his unusual thought patterns to see the world and find that which is missing.

My family identifies with it because they identify with the way Walter thinks, the connections that his brain makes and the way he works out these puzzles is certainly the way most of the members of my house approach life.

Does Walter Sherman have ADHD?  Is that where his unusual thought process springs from?   While I am sure that we could keep that topic going around our dinner table for hours, truth is, it really doesn't matter.  My family can identify with Walter Sherman.  They love his uniquely wired brain and its fun approach to life's problems and quests.  They love his quirky catch phrase, "Eh, I'm gonna to risk it." blurted right as he is about to do something impulsive.  They have adopted it as their own.

Which is good, I always like a little warning and when I hear those words they have my attention. 

They love his friend and counselor Leo, played by Michael Clark Duncan, who is clearly the balance to Walter.  He would be the executive function pointing out the boundaries and giving advice.  Sometimes listened to, sometimes ignored.  They love Willa, the sassy, troubled gypsy girl in Leo's care.  And the on again off again love interest of Walter, US Marshall Isabelle.  A great cast and crew, great writing, combine to make a great show which, unfortunately, seems to be a well hidden secret. 

So, in a effort to make sure that we can see The Finder for a long time I had to share it here and encourage all of you who have a uniquely wired brain, who parent those with uniquely wired brains, or work with those with uniquely wired brains to watch this show and spread the word to others to watch it.  Watch it and maybe you will find a fun perspective on the brains of those you love like I did. 

Tonight, despite all the craziness that we will still be pursuing, at 8:00pm you know where you will find this family.  All 9 of us will be watching our best find in a long time.