Hello from a Crazy Old Bat

Post Reply New Topic

Hi, folks,

Just joined. I wasn't diagnosed with Asperger's until I was nearly 60. It came as no surprise to me; in fact, I'm rather proud of it!

I grew up in Brooklyn, New York, at a time when having grown up in Brooklyn really meant something, and was incarcerated for 12 years in a Catholic school. All those stories you've heard about nuns and Catholic school? They're all true. No matter how weird they sound, they're all true.

When I was growing up (and, actually, to this day), I have had two over-riding passions: Horses, and Science. I went on to get two science degrees and then a career in advertising (after a short stint at Professing), which is so wrong on so many levels; but that career allowed me to finally buy (yes, in Brooklyn) a horse of my own. He's long dead, buried outside my window here in Colorado, but I still miss him so. I still have horses, and cherish animals of any kind (there are four cats on my desk as I type this; I don't know where the other six are at the moment...). I have been married to a fellow Aspie for over 30 years--much to the shock of our respective families!

When I was maybe ten or eleven, I'm not sure, I watched a story about computers on Walter Cronkite's "20th Century." I was hooked from that moment! I found a box, a hole punch, a bunch of index cards, spent kitchen matches, rubber bands and other sundry stuff, and by the end of the day had build a kluge that read and sorted, correctly, punched cards. Mother Dearest came in, saw it, and immediately threw it out. A most inappropriate interest for a girl, you know.

I have been, for some months, thinking of writing a book on what it was like growing up as a female Apsie back in the day. I don't know how much is changed. It might be interesting to compare what it was like in the 60s with what you folks are facing now.

At this point I should probably shut up. I'm looking forward to meeting you and getting to know some like minds.

Hi! Welcome to Wrong Planet! Might I suggest some books for you to read about older people with autism and Asperger's:
Look Me in the Eye by John Elder Robison (he wasn't diagnosed until he was 40!)
Thinking in Pictures by Temple Grandin (she designed 1/3 of the country's livestock handling systems; this might be of interest to you since you like animals)
I think you and I might have something in common. I'm 33 and I wasn't diangosed with Asperger's when I was growing up, either. I wasn't diagnosed until I was in my early 20s. I know that's young compared to you, but I know what it was like to grow up without a diagnosis. You are not alone. And you are not crazy, either. You're also not that old.

hi there, welcome, I'm fairly new at WP but I guess it's o.k. I can commiserate about the Catholic School in the old days stuff - but 'probably be better to skip giving that subject any attention.
Sounds like you have a great life - Colorado and horses - nice.

Welcome to WrongPlanet!

Hope you enjoy your stay here

Welcome. I was diagnosed when I was 42.

yes welcome 63 here not diagnosed and see no real need for it
but yea it is very very true.
did not figure it out until recently and a lot of pieces just fell into place
pieces that did not fit - like me - all my life.
Like you I managed to put a career together and get through to the other side
which now includes being comfortable in my own skin

Welkome to WP!

Mick

Welcome to Wrong Planet!

To WrongPlanet!! !

Welcome to WP. I hope you do decide to write a book! At the very least, I'm sure it would be cathartic.