Howdy Ya'll

Post Reply New Topic

I am a 41 year old AS. I found out two years ago, at age 39, why I have been different all of my life. Until recently I have not done much but read up some on AS on the web and that only a little. Recently I have started perusing a board or two that deals with AS. I have also started reading more books on the subject. Heck this might even become an obsession.
Two things have given me a kick in the pants to start learning more. The first was the fact that my son is turned three recently and I am noticing what appears to be AS traits in him. The second came from reading John Robinson's book, Look Me in the Eye. I read his account and realized that there were many similarities between what he dealt with and how he dealt with it and myself. I then thought that there must be more of us out there and started looking around.

And here I am.

A little about me and my condition. I am a highly functional Adult AS. I am married with a three year old son who has an 18 month obsession with bowling.

I am pretty social and I usually don't let my AS get in the way. I have learned how to compensate on my own for my lack of social graces. It is not perfect and I can still kill a conversation on occasion. But most people I deal with seem to like me and usually refer to me as eccentric or colorful. I like to meet people, except on those days when I am in one of my "moods". I still have to remind myself to look people in the eye when talking with them.

I really tend to obsess on some things and can drone on and on way past time to shut my mouth. My wife had to remind me last night that I was beginning to drone. I also am a rambler.

I love Sci-Fi and Fantasy to the point of it being my longest and deepest obsession. 38 years now. Yes, I became obsessed with it when I was 3 years old. One of my earliest memories of Television is of laying on the couch with the paternal unit and watching Star Trek.

I am a computer geek. I run the Computer Department of a suburban library, where I have honed my people skills over the years. I have the ability to take geek speak and turn it in into terms that most people can understand. And I have excellent skills on diagnosing and repairing network and computer problems. Especially if I can actually be at the malfunctioning equipment. Phone diagnosis is not my strong point.

I smoke and have found it extremely difficult to stop. It seems that my cigarette addiction has become entangled with my self-comforting and anxiety control mechanisms. It is also tied to my "safe place" at home. (Nice term by the way, I have always referred to it as "the place I go to be alone and get away")

I do not have the clumsiness that seems to affect so many people with AS. When I was about 8, I did develop some clumsiness, but my mother took me to a PT that helped me overcome it. I believe that my clumsiness was a result of my parents breakup and a very rapid growth spurt (read rapid weight gain due to depression over the breakup) on my part. It was just a matter of months for the clumsiness to go away and me to get back my old balance and manual dexterity. I almost never fall or stumble.

Talking about my difference is not something that in the past I was totally comfortable with, because for so many years I have had hidden it and pretended that it did not exist. I believe that this stems from the lessons I learned in middle and high school; That which is different, is not accepted.

Ok, I have begun to drone and ramble, so I will say adios and I am looking forward to to trying to participate in this board.

Welcome Brooks,

Yep, 61 and the same story.

I do get strange looks when I ask the computer what is bothering it, and stranger when I fix it.

Finding WP was coming home.

I did AS without knowing, but knowing is better, and books do not work, WP is the real deal, our playground, and I am learning.

Never had so much fun as here.

Welcome to your world!

You're one of the few here who have read Robison's book.
I really liked it, and I think more folks should read it.

I can see you're going to give me competition for long rambling posts , and this town ain't big enough.... well, actually it is, so...

Step right in and enjoy yourself.

I haven't seen any no-smoking signs around here so I guess it's... Smoke'em if you Got'em! hack hack, cough cough

Oh, and you're one of those who spell ya'll correctly. Some folks spell it y'all but I know from growing up in West Texas that we pronounce it correct and that makes it... YA'LL!

so, see ya'll round the place!

Welcome to WrongPlanet!
We have a Dino-Aspie Ex Cafe for the 40 and over crowd, drop in and have a muffin.

Welcome to WP!

Tim

Nice to meet you, Brooks.

I'm Jerry.

Thanks all.

Welcome to Wrong Planet!

Hi, glad you found the wrong planet