One of the difficulties that I've had is that I've ALWAYS connected the (apparent) ADD stuff with humour, anecdotes etc. Other than feeling sorry that I let my parents down so badly, I've rarely even considered that it could have been something completely beyond my control.

Like others here, I tested through the roof on IQ thingies, but still managed to be the 'stupidist' person in school. Because I missed a lot of school, both parents and teachers always opined that "next year will be different". It never was, because the illnesses that kept me home were for the most part faked, and eventually I ran out of time. I believe that after reapeating grades 9, 10, and part of 11, I was expelled (it's a grey fuzzy area that generally I play for laughs...but not right now.)

Of course, to just take two of the things I was passionately interested in...folk music and baseball...no one would have thought there was anything wrong. My knowledge of both was practically encyclopaedic and I learned to play very quickly. But most other things were practically hopeless. My other passion for cartooning never seemed to be affected....BUT...turning that into a way of earning a living was a complete failure. Thank goodness for songs and the guitar and banjo!!

I'm really enjoying the responses here. Thanks my friends.

Rick