Just to let you know, I have been having a lot of guest writers lately because I have been finalizing "The Puzzle Boy!"  I sent it all out to the webpage maker and it will be out very soon!  Hang in there, please!

The Puzzle Boy took his place at the table as is his custom following waking up, breakfast, shower and dressing for the day.  He pulled in his chair and hunched over the weekly wordsearch that comes in our tiny, little local newspaper.  He always looks forward to see the title for the week.  This week it just "happened" to be Valentines Day.  "Look, mom! It says Valentines Day!  Is that a holiday?" 

"Yes, and no.... We will still get mail, but it is a special day for those who love each other.  It is a special day of love."  I told him.  He really liked that.  I went on to do my work.  I had quilts to do for people.  I went to my quilting studio downstairs for the morning and engrossed my mind into a very large show quilt.  I didn't pay any attention to Seth upstairs.  He was quiet.  Diligent...

"Good afternoon,"  I heard Seth holler as he broke my concentration!  Wow, noon already.  "When are you going to come up here and make lunch?"  That was the next question. I know everyday just what will be said.  Clockwork.  "Soon!"  I holler back up to him.  I then hear the plates rattle as he brings them out of the cupboard.  The refridgerater opens as he pulls out lettuce, carrots, cucumbers and salad dressing.  Forks come out of the drawer along with serving spoons and a pot in case I cook something.  It is all lined up and ready for me. 

He is really handy that way.  I love it!  After lunch he helps put things away.  He may empty the dishwasher and recently I got him on to putting things into the dishwasher.  Seth takes the washcloth and washes the table, then takes the towel and dries it.  All is put away until the next meal when it is "Good evening!"

I slink back down to my project as Seth hunches back over the table.  I forgot to take a look and see how he was doing.  Sometimes he has a stack of several wordsearch puzzles to go through. He likes to show them to me when he is done.

"Mom, come up here!"  Oh, now what?  "Just a minute, Seth."  Soon I emerge up the stairs.  I get lots of exercise going up and down stairs, believe me!  I went over to the table to see what was up. "Mom, look at this puzzle. I can't find any words.  I have been trying and trying so much!" He said.

"Hmmmm.... "  I look at the words to find and then at the puzzle. I see lots of words in the puzzle, but none of them match the listed words.  No Sweet Valentine words in this puzzle. "They made a mistake, son!  I can't believe it.  You have been working for hours on this puzzle and have not found a single word because they gave you the wrong puzzle to the wrong words!" 

"Oh!" was his reply.  I told him that maybe next week they will make it right.  What a surprise! He was not angry.  Just a bit bewildered.  I felt bad for him.  Too bad I didn't check on him sooner. Actually, I am surprised that he didn't tell me sooner to help him find a word!

All the time in the world. No stress.  Just "Ohhho!"  He moves on to something else.  Wow!  The rest of us "neurotypicals"  would be calling up the newspaper company and telling them off or something! We would get stressed out and add a few more wrinkles.  We just "don't have time for such things!"  No grace.  No mercy, no patience. We lead our bodies into the 21st century disease of adrenal failure!

That is what I like about Autism.  No, I Love it!  I have learned so much.  I think another word for Autism would be "Naive."  Don't sweat the small stuff! Don't worry, be happy!  Move on.  Don't sit there and hang on to trouble. Yeah, they get stuck on some things like clocks, and they have to finish something before they can move on sometimes, but time is not of essence. (Unless it is noon and they are perceiving hunger!)

Valentines Day. February 14, 2008.  How will you show your love? To your child, to your spouse?  How about to your parents?  Take some time.  Forget that there is a clock and other things to do.  Match your words to your actions and don't be like the "misrepresented puzzle!"  Let your troubles melt away.  Give them to the "man upstairs" He will gladly shoulder them until you want them back.  Of course, if you don't He knows how to get rid of them..........

Until Next Time, don't get duped with wrong attitudes!  Get a few more Valentine cards to give away and have a blessed and renewed day!

Nancy Lynne