Yesterday afternoon we went to a Big Box store.
We were practicing Independent Living Skills, because the guys all go there to buy their toothpaste and shampoo and laundry soap, but the flourescent lights and the sheer size of the place is pretty much the DEFINITION of Sensory Overload, and my Boy isn't keen on it.
Two years ago, going to this same exact store would have left me bruised and exhausted and
having said *I'm sorry about his behavior, he can't help it, he's autistic* prolly a hundred times.
The scanners at checkout hurt his ears (or his eyes, I can't remember which).
Well, imagine my JOY
when I told him where we were going,
and he brightened right up and said
"Disney box?".
Hmmmmmm.
We'll see.
We parked the Mommymobile, and headed into the Big Box.
He KNEW exactly what he wanted...
Scooped up the Giant sized bag of Lay's Original Potato Chips,
the Jumbo box of Little Debbie
Creme filled Oatmeal cookies
and moved QUICKLY to the ELECTRONICS department.
There, on a lovely silver display
were the boxed sets of the early years
of Walt Disney's career.
He has most of these in his extensive collection,
but lo and behold,
one he didn't already own.
He is an absolute Database for Disney Animation History.
I have NO idea how he keeps track of hundreds of home recorded
VCR tapes. None of them have labelling of any kind, but he can pick one
out of the pile and sure enough it is exactly what he is looking for.
I have trouble finding my shoes in the morning.
So, I never even TRY to guess what he doesn't have in his
collection. My job is to provide transportation and negotiate the
checkout process.
"I am ready to check-OUT" says the Boy,
and suddenly he stops.
He has seen the Valentine display and quickly
decides he needs to get something for
Debbieduck.
He *knows* just what he is looking for,
and though I would NEVER have chosen
this particular card and gift combo,
he is SURE.
We move through the checkout lanes, and he finds the one
where the scanner is broken, so that the cashier has to manually enter
all of the SKU's
(HOW DOES HE KNOW???)
He makes an attempt to pay for his purchases
and, all things considered,
it goes pretty well.
We head back to his Nest and I marvel at the progress he has made.
Several hours later,
Debbieduck calls me, in tears.
They have to put their sweet Standard Poodle
Kishka, to sleep. He had a massive grand mal seizure
after a year of increasingly strange symptoms....
mostly likely a Brain Tumor.
I told her about the afternoon with the Boy bird.
"He's Amazing", she says, "He KNEW".
Yup. Cue the "and it makes me WONDER" soundtrack.
Okay, I'm off to the retreat now....saying extra prayers for my dear Friend,
and for each of you and yours.
MWAH!
