A Tempting Offer

 

I awoke on a Wednesday morning and saw Luis, who I met at the waffle event, had sent me a text inviting me to his fraternity party, and I agreed to go. I got an e-mail from the Office of Student Activities, saying they couldn’t book a room in the Union for the time I requested, but asked if we could meet somewhere else. I told them we could. I also realized I didn’t have a textbook with a DVD I was supposed to have for my Film Appreciation class. Later I went to the fraternity party for Tau Kappa Epsilon, and saw Luis, Ryan, and Chris, and met several Noah, Alex, Grant, Sean, and some other TKE members. I talked to my dad, who said he would pay me back for the book and then made twelve more straws into beads and worked on my pendant lamp. 

During my Early American Literature class, I realized I didn’t have my book with me to write response papers, which our instructor asked for a full page of notebook paper’s worth, something I thought we would type up outside of class and only managed to get a little more than half a page from borrowing the textbook of my classmate sitting next to me. After my World Archaeology class, I went to the bookstore and got the DVD I needed for my Film Appreciation class. Then I got the e-mail that next week’s meeting for the UCM Autism Spectrum Support Group would be in Wood 216, where North American Indian class was and my World Archaeology class is held.

As I got back to my room, a tall Asian student approached me.

“You Ben?” he asked in somewhat fluent English, smiling.

“Yeah,” I said.

“Ok. I saw you last night at the party. I was thinking we could be roommates because I want to learn about American culture.”

“Ok. What was your name again?”

“Jai. J-A-I.”

“Ok. Yeah, well I’ll see you again tonight."

Connor came into our room later and said, “Ben, I’m going to move into the room next door cause it’s bigger and Aaron is going to be my new roommate, but there’s a guy from South Korea who said he would be your new roommate, and he seems like a pretty cool guy.”

“Alright,” I said, relieved that I had now talked it over with Connor.

I went to the party again that night and saw Jai, accompanied with another South Korean student. Jai said, “Ben, this is Sinho. He will be your new roommate.”

“Ok,” I said slightly confused.

“I will come over tomorrow to see your room,” he said, sounding more inquisitive than declarative.

“Ok, "I said. “Would three o’ clock work for you?”

“Three?” he said.

“Sure, three.”

“Aw, ok,” He put his index finger to his thumb in understanding.

The next morning, I had lunch with Jai, who I saw in the dining hall. Then I worked some more on my handbag made from snack wrappers and read the reading for my Film Appreciation class. I went to do my Modern Sub-Saharan Africa post in the Lovinger Building, where I got a new presidential dollar from putting a dollar bill in the machine and ejecting it. I posted my post for my modern Sub-Saharan Africa class, and then started my first response post for that class during which time I realized Africa may have such a problem with HIV/AIDS because when malaria victims get blood transfusions, hospitals don’t have the equipment to test blood donors for HIV/AIDS, and that orphans many children and as a result they can’t go to school or get health care and don’t know how to protect themselves against these diseases. I also realized that I am studying film, literature, and things to do with different societies and cultures at UCM, all of which I want to do with my career. Later Sinho came over and I showed him my room and the dining hall, and we got the paperwork filled out. Then I showed him around the Ellis dining hall.

Afterwards I turned twelve more straws into beads and then went to Those Were the Days to get some more embroidery floss for my yarn paintings. 
             I went to the TKE party afterwards, sitting with Jai and Sinho in the charter room. Noah came up and talked to us, during which time Jai and Sinho revealed that they had been given “bids” and were now planning to join the organization.

“Are you guys ready for the next eight weeks?” Noah asked relishing in those words.

“Why?” Jai asked.

“For the next eight weeks, you have to do whatever they say before you can become a member.”

I saw one of the students I met gather up all the bags used for their food. I asked, “Do you need those bags?” He threw them in my direction, and I caught them. I ate dinner and met two more South Korean students, who knew Jai and Sinho, Ryan and Kim, or rather those were the names they went by. Kim said to me, “I think you will enjoy being roommates with Sinho. He is a very nice, just as you are also very nice."

Later Sean came up to me and said, “Ben, can I talk to you for a moment?”

“Sure,” I said. I followed him into a room, where the student who had tossed me those bags, was sitting on a bed, looking solemnly at me. He said, “Ben, we’ve gotten to know you over the past few days, and we think you’re a really cool guy, and that TEK could help you wish your goals, and we think you would be a good person to represent our organization.” He handed me an envelope. 
             “You have forty-eight hours to decide, in which you just need to contact one of our members.”

“Wow,” I said, just struggling for words. “Thanks,” I said, half-audibly.

I went back into the lounge area and opened the envelope. There was a note with the TKE shield, saying:

Since our founding in 1899, more than 250,000 men have been initiated into our brotherhood.  Based on your personal worth and character, the men of Tau Kappa Epsilon do hereby extend an invitation for you to join our Fraternity.

Better Men for a Better World.

Suddenly I had a vivid sensation all throughout my body. Two decades of autistic suffering, of bullies and abusive teachers from elementary school; autism organizations who got undeserved hype while paying more to their executives than educational and developmental research for autism at the expense of good autism organizations; therapists in my early young adult years who implied I would never thrive at a traditional four year college, or that any love interest I had would never return my feelings, were all things I could shove back at them: I had been invited to a national fraternity!

I still was not sure though if I should join. I had all my schoolwork in addition to the group. I talked to my granddad, and he said, “You have forty-eight hours to decide.” I finished my Gandhi yarn painting, except for the frame, trying to clear my mind of the question. I went to bed dreaming of author Lemony Snicket walking up to and hugging a woman who he always referred to as “my darling Beatrice.” The next morning, I read more of Anthills of the Savanah and took out my recycling to the courtyard where I found several more pebbles for my collection. I got back to my dorm and worked on my coasters made from Styrofoam and a scrapbook cover made from a chips bag. I also watched Two Cars, One Night for my Film Appreciation class, where two young indigenous children, a boy and girl developed an affection for each other and took some good notes on it for my post on the film. I went on Facebook and saw my grandmom had liked one of my autism posts. I shared several great posts from the Autistic Self-Advocacy Network, Autistic Women’s Empowerment, and the Autism Support Network one of which being about a woman married to an autistic man and I commented with the post saying that for many autistic people, it is scary to be with someone who might not understand our condition so close up, and I used to be one of them, and dating is either like a mine field or a cage, and we can only hope that when we come around we can only hope that the mines which were really treasure chests will still be around for us. I saw in my mailbox that I had gotten my Christmas present from my Uncle Andy and Aunt Marge: a $25 Amazon gift card. I worked on another self for toilet paper roll dioramas and my handbag. I also turned twenty-two more straws into beads.

The next day I sorted some recycling during which time I found an interesting seashell for my collection (which I no longer take from beaches for environmental purposes) in the courtyard. Later I helped two of the Korean students moving into Ellis move in by letting them keep their stuff in my room for a little while during which time one of them complimented my toilet paper roll dioramas and even asked me if I carved the wooden Buddha figurine. Later I finished my posts for my Modern Sub-Saharan Africa class. Soon after that I did all the posts and responses for my Film Appreciation class. Later I went to Crazy Dog’s taking several great pictures of the campus and picking up and recycling several bottles and cans along the way, got a new Snapple cap from my drink, and learned more of how to make shopping bags from plastic bags. Then I called Luis and told him I wouldn’t have the time to join TKE between my classes and starting some projects to help the UCM community but I felt honored and that it was very sincere and meant a lot to me that they would consider me a potential member and make me so welcomed among them and I looked forward to doing anything with the guys in the future.

Later I went to Crazy Dog’s taking several great pictures of the campus and picking up and recycling several bottles and cans along the way and got a new Snapple cap from my drink. Then I worked on my coasters made from paper plates and Styrofoam. Later I prepared my PowerPoint presentation for the luncheon tomorrow during and also learned the organization called the Dan Marino Foundation has raised over $47 million dollars for autism services. Once I finished that I thought I would give a portion of my ethnic musical instrument collection to JCCC as well as a portion of it to UCM and my collection of art from around the world to Horizon Academy, and my bottle cap signs to the Pathless Land. I got back and I made another flower and twenty more straws into beads.  I also looked at my Buddha figurine and thought, maybe someday I will be able to carve something like that. 

The next morning, I had breakfast with Jai and Kim before I went to the Psychology Club/Psi Chi joint meeting. When it was my time, I got up and gave my presentation to all the students, of which Ryan, a guy from my hall was one of. At the end of it everyone clapped, and one student said he would be interested in being a peer mentor. After the meeting was over, I felt relieved and went back to my dorm and worked on my handbag and coasters. I found two more pebbles for my collection and found some wooden planks I could carve in the dumpster and brought them to my room while I took out my trash and recycling. Then I read the reading for my Early American Literature class. After that I decided to carve those planks I found into figures, one of them of the Buddha, and another of Merlin and started drawing the design for that while I ate dinner with Mary, who I learned still has that handbag I made which Tyler gave her, Anna, and Tasha.

I made myself a coaster from the plates at the luncheon and it looked really great. I read more of Anthills of the Savanah while I ran, and it was really interesting. I had Late Night with Jai and Kim. Then I showed my dad pictures of my Gandhi yarn painting and my coaster, and he loved them. After that I talked to Tyler while I turned ten more straws into beads, and I realized that my JCCC group, as well as my interview with Chris Hernandez, which may have led some people to it, may have helped autism groups that don’t give their share go under the radar, and felt really proud, realizing that like Teresa said, I do deserve to be loved, and felt no fear of asking a girl out when the time is right. 

The next morning, I realized that saying to a person with Asperger syndrome that he or she can’t speak for a non-verbal autistic (but neurotypical people can) is basically saying that because they’re autistic they can’t speak for non-verbal people. I read an article called Thirty-five Pictures That Prove the World isn't Such a Bad Place and was inspired by that to leave an umbrella out in my yard when I have a house for stray dogs and cats to go under when it rains, and I realized I do things worthy of those pictures when I sort the recycling or the way I was a friend to Tyler. I went to my Early American Literature class where I got back my last writing assignment which to my relief, I saw had a check. As I got back to my dorm, I decided to make my red, white, and blue straws into flowers rather than beads, as flowers take less time to make. Then I worked on one of my lampshades made from straws, and made about thirty more flowers, using the excess straw for beads, and worked some more on my handbag made from snack wrappers. After that I ate dinner with Brian, Mary, and Jade from THRIVE, before going to the Anthropology Club meeting, and I heard Laci was going to be presenting at an Anthropology convention in Bloomington, Illinois this April. I got a free book Introducing Cultural Anthropology with a cover showing Kazakh hawkers, which I thought would make a great wood burning. When I got back, I realized that making wall art like the ones made from paper from toilet paper rolls saves trees, by replacing paper requiring trees to be cut down. Then I worked on that lampshade made from straws, my coasters made from paper plates. Afterwards I read more of Anthills of the Savanah while running on the treadmill. I went to Late Night where I read a section in my new book about applied anthropology, and how it had been used to help reforest Haiti. I got back and I worked on sawing apart that long plank during which time I realized my saw wasn’t wide enough to cut it, so I would have to look at the hardware store. I also made ten more beads from straws.

The next morning, I realized it’s wrong to say that a person with Asperger syndrome couldn’t speak for an autistic person with high support needs seeing how I can speak so well for Tyler. After I woke up, I read some more of Anthills of the Savanah and took a break to work on my handbag. 

I went to the room where the meeting was supposed to take place, where I saw Tom waiting outside, only to hear on an e-mail sent to me yesterday that it was changed to room 306, only the janitor thought we were meeting in room 305, thinking we were the ABC Club and when I told him who we were he said we were supposed to meet in room 216.

“Sorry, Tom,” I said.

“That’s ok,” he told me.

 After that I sent an e-mail to Laura Scot from the Office of Student Activities about it asking that they look into the matter and the UCM Autism Spectrum Support Group members and the prospective peer mentors apologizing for any inconvenience they may have faced. I knew I would have to have patience, like the Buddhist saint Padmasambhava did when spreading Buddhism to Tibet, making him such a saintly man, and wondered if that wasn’t why we have the term “patience of a saint.”

I read some more of the reading for my Early American Literature class when I got back and on the treadmill. Later on, I made about thirty more flowers from straws and turned ten more straws into beads.

The next day I sat with Anna, Mary (Oscar’s girlfriend), and Oscar at breakfast. After that I read the reading for my Early American Literature class. After that class I saw Grant from TKE. We said hi to each other and he told me that some time I ought to come and visit the TKE house. After my World Archaeology class bought some gorilla glue for my snack wrapper collages and returned my library copy of The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin.

I got an idea for more of how to make my plastic bag mandala from the Warrensburg bags, and to make one with a smiley face, representing the way smiling can transform how you feel, a yellow circle around it, representing the Great Eastern Sun, white Walmart bags, representing the Vajra sky and the Buddhist metaphor for watching your thoughts like clouds, a tree, representing the Buddha as he was portrayed in early Theravada Buddhism, as well as the Bodhi tree, and the hierarchy of Heaven, Earth, and Man, and Target targets around the tree, sun, and edges. I worked on that and my mandala made from Warrensburg bags, as well as my snack wrapper collages of Maja Toudal and Thomas Jefferson with my new gorilla glue, and my coasters made from paper plates and Styrofoam, and then ate dinner with Sinho and Jai. I went to the Rec Center with them and ran on the treadmill for about half an hour, during which time I realized that if thirty-three states have voted to have autism health coverage, then they may also vote for senators who will help pass it. 

The next morning, I worked on my snack wrapper collages some more and read more of Anthills of the Savanah. Then I sorted a lot of recycling during which time I found two more pebbles for my collection. After that I worked on my coaster made from paper plates and Styrofoam some more.  I also remembered my “Unable/You enable” mantra. I got a text from Hillary and learned David Mahon from THRIVE was visiting, so I went down to see him, and we got caught up on each other’s lives. I later worked on my pencil cups made from Pringles cans, and saw an e-mail from Dr. Mayfield, thanking me for handling the confusion so well on Wednesday, where a meeting taking longer than she expected stopped her from being able to come. Later Sinho asked me if I wanted to move to Foster/Knox apartments, which he said was cheaper and bigger. Since he seemed like he really wanted to, I said yes, but thought I would really be lonely outside of Ellis, but perhaps if I had the sort of person Teresa asked me to love, that might be different. At the end of the day, I talked to my dad and told him how Grant asked me to visit the TKE house.

“So those guys took it ok?” he asked.

“Yeah. I guess they have their own lives to worry about. They seemed to understand. I’ve got a big thing I have to start in addition to my schoolwork. But it’s ok because I have the autistic students at UCM to serve. They are my brothers, and sisters.”

Asperger Syndrome and Love

    

On the morning fo the football game I ate breakfast with John, as well as another UCM student, also named John. Then I found another pebble out in the Ellis courtyard. Then Tyler arrived, along with his mom, and his grandfather with Alzheimer’s, who looked very confused. We went to the THRIVE reunion barbecue where I saw Hillary, Mr. B, Mrs. Fahrmeier, Dr. Mayfield, and Julie. At the reception, Tyler struggled to help his grandfather into his coat, and I said, “Tyler do you want me to help with that?” I helped him grandfather get his arm through his sleeve and then something incredible happened: he smiled and held out his hand for me to shake, which I did. I suddenly realized what it must be like for my brother Jamie, working and interning at a senior center for people with Alzheimer’s and Dementia. Then Hillary, Tyler, and I went to watch the football game up in the presidential box where we had been invited for the reunion. I also read a story about a college couple on, the two of them with Asperger syndrome, who lived together in an apartment at the University of Massachusetts and found a way to compensate for their condition to be together. It began when Kirsten Lindsmith met a guy named Jack Robison. Kirsten had been misdiagnosed with ADHD and never had heard of autism. Her boyfriend at the time was a high school socialite who had a way of always correcting her social behaviors, such as speaking in monotone, scooping up the food she dropped on the floor at restaurants, and speaking for long minutes to her boyfriend’s friends about her interest in animal physiology. Kirsten went through years of social rejection, making her so eager to please, and thus prone to manipulation by others. Then at UMass Kirsten met Jack at a café as he, a man with an intense interest in chemistry, did some testing of explosives in the woods, which he filmed for YouTube, upsetting people from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms, for Jack didn’t realize that setting off explosives in the woods may not necessarily be seen by the ATF as ambitious chemistry experiments.

 

Jack was cleared of all charges and recruited by the UMass Chemistry director, who was impressed by his home-built chemistry lab. Jack moreover was the son of John Elder Robison, the author of the book, Don’t Look Me in the Eye, about being diagnosed with Asperger syndrome at the age of thirty-nine. His father regularly wondered could someone with Asperger syndrome find love? I knew I had gotten the support in my childhood that allowed me to be very social and good at reading non-verbal cues and social perceptions and have the same quality of life as others, but that didn’t mean I never feared how others would perceive my own differences.

Kirsten met Jack between classes and he felt a strong sense of love for her but unable to tell from her non-verbal expressions what she felt, and one day simply e-mailed her telling her his feelings flat out. Kirsten told her boyfriend about it and that she felt she had found her soul mate. Jack and Kirsten grew closer and lived together in an apartment at UMass, but faced some difficulties, such as Jack’s lack of understanding of human touch in relationship that nearly brought Kirsten to a nervous meltdown. Yet through seeing a relationship counselor, they devised a plan for them to get a housecat, which they could pet and use that as a way to demonstrate how she wanted to be caressed. Afterwards their relationship continued to flourish, and they ended up contributing to Wrong Planet, so it seemed for Jack’s father, the answer to his question was yes, people with Asperger syndrome can indeed find love. I finished reading the story feeling very deeply and personally affected by it. Love, I’ve heard over and over, comes when you least expect it. I imagined over the summer before I dated Emily and after that, that I would meet at the UCM Autism Spectrum Support Group, yet my Granddad would say, “Maybe you will meet someone in one of your classes.” I remembered last year though how Teresa gave me a stone on our last Person-Centered Planning meeting that said “Risk,” asking me to love someone who will love me the way I deserved to be loved, which she said I did deserve. 

After I got back, I saw I was getting a call which turned out to be from my mom and I answered it. She said, (she and Dave being in Colorado) that our pet sitter Nick went into the sunroom and found my fourteen year old cat, Polly lying on the floor, dead. I froze and after I hung up, Tyler’s mom put her arm around me. I suddenly felt strange; Polly had been with me for fourteen years of my life. 
                Tyler and his mom left and I called my friend Erin, who gave me her condolences for Polly. I talked to my dad who told me his and Sherry’s old cat Buddy Girl, also died recently. Then I worked on my snack wrapper collage of Maja Toudal, though still with a residual shock over Polly. I still hadn’t eaten, and it was fifteen minutes until my exercise time, the closest restaurant being Chic Filet, which I didn’t want to eat at due to its owner’s stance on gay marriage, while there was also Crazy Dog’s which would make me late for my exercise, which I needed in light of Polly’s death. In the end, I went down to the food court shop and bought some beef jerky for dinner, so I would at least have some energy for the treadmill. After I got back I talked to Jamie, who had heard about Polly and gave me his condolences. He also said I was right about how it felt when I helped Tyler’s grandfather. I also made another mala from straws and finished a bicycle streamer made from snack wrappers. I decided to save my meditation journal entry for today for the next day and make that day’s and today’s entry one entry dedicated to Polly. Yet I felt a strange sense of joy realizing what she was to me. 

On Sunday I saw a trailor for The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug before I went to bed. After I got up and did my meditation, I worked on my travel plans to Kenya. I also talked to Tyler some more.  I learned about the ruins of Thimlich Ohinga in my Lonely Planet Kenya book, which were said to bear great resemblance to Great Zimbabwe, and felt excited for my Modern Sub-Saharan Africa class. Later Kyley came into my room and said she really liked the Autistic Pride pencil cups made from Pringles cans. After that I reorganized some of my recyclables and worked on some earrings made from bread bag tops. Then I went down to the library, got on a computer and posted on Facebook a eulogy for Polly:

R.I.P Polly Edwards. I knew you since you were a kitten when I got you for my tenth birthday. You were there for all of middle school, high school, learning to drive, two colleges, starting two student group, four relationships, two houses I lived in, and much more. I will remember you always.

Later I found Hillary and Alex Habib put their condolences by the remark and I thanked them for it. Afterwards I read most of the reading for my World Masterpieces class. I got back to my dorm and did my laundry. Later I worked on my snack wrapper collage of Maja Toudal. Of, course I also made the day’s meditation journal, about today and the day before that, something I dedicated to Polly. 

I later ate dinner with Logan and another THRIVE student, the former, especially, seeming happy to see me. After I got back from the Rec Center I made another mala from straws and talked to Tyler while I worked on my yarn painting of Hank Hill. 

 

In my next Drawing I class I learned more about accenting the lines on charcoal drawings. I later got some more super glue at the Union bookstore, getting another dime for my collection from my change. I found out later that my World Masterpieces so after sorting some recycling I got back to my dorm and worked on my foil sculptures of the Buddha and Thomas Jefferson while I talked to Tyler. Then I got finished with my Algebra homework for the day. Afterwards I worked some more on Hank Hill and Maja Toudal. 

The next day I made two more roses from straws and worked on my handbag made from snack wrappers. After my North American Indian class I went to the UCM Autism Spectrum Support Group meeting, which Tom and Dr. Mayfield came too and we decided on a Bowling Night the next week. I talked to Tyler some more while making some “plarn” (yarn made from loops cut out from plastic bags). After running on the treadmill I made another mala from straws. I also showed my mom my snack wrapper collage and she loved it. 

I sat with some THRIVE students at lunch the next day. Then I read most of the reading for my World Masterpieces class. After that I got one hundred percent on my Algebra quiz. I then e-mailed all the UCM Autism Spectrum Support Group members about the bowling night next week and the movie night. Later I talked to Tyler for a bit. Then I found a way to repurpose some of the plastic bottle caps in my pile by turning blue ones into Earth Day magnets, white ones into snowman magnets, and brown ones into Thanksgiving turkey magnets. 

The next day in my Algebra class I got 82.65% on my Algebra test and half way through the study guide. Then I posted on my Aunt Laura’s Facebook page thanking her, my uncle, and cousins for the birthday presents. Later at my North American Indian class I found out I got twenty-seven out of thirty points on the oral presentation and eighteen out of twenty points on the written part. I also started realizing how the more we learn about different cultures, the more we see how people can adapt to all different kinds of environments, like the harsh deserts of northern Kenya, or the Danakil Desert of Ethiopia and Eritrea. On my way back to the dorm, I got a picture of the Rec Center wall behind a tree and it was glowing yellow in the setting sun and I thought I’d submit it to UCM Photos of the Week contest. Later I made three more stamps from plastic bottle caps and Styrofoam, and I decided that instead of making signs with my bottle cap collection, I would make a wall fish, which would take up less space. Later I went to Max’s, the UCM drug-sniffing dog, retirement party. I also talked to Tyler while I made another mala from straws. I also told my Granddad about my photo and my idea to submit it to UCM Photos of the Week and he thought that was a great idea.

The next day at breakfast I sat with Oscar and Tom, inviting Oscar to join in the UCM Autism Spectrum Support Group movie night and he accepted. I also thought about the great works of art indigenous peoples have done and realized it shows their lives are not all about struggling for survival. I went to the movie, though no one ended up coming, though Oscar did text me saying he had a lot of studying to do and couldn’t come. I did notice how the planet the movie took place on almost looked like Tibet, and thought if the Chinese wanted to wipe out the natives through intermarriages, forced sterilizations, and assimilation, they’d need to find someone else to do all the menial work. I didn’t end up staying as I really had to use the bathroom and no one was there. Afterwards I would have gone to the Print Club but I was far too tired and needed a break. I talked to my granddad when I got back and he said that what the group may need is better advertising. Later I worked on my bag woven from bags and some plarn while I ran on the treadmill. I got back and talked to my dad who telling him about the movie night and he thought that people might not be showing up because there’s no one there for them to meet and we could start by getting a core group of THRIVE students to come. I liked this idea and decided to try and work it out. Afterwards I worked on my plastic bottle cap Green Man. 

The next morning I worked on my travel plans to Tanzania after breakfast. Then I sorted some recycling, during which time I found another bottle cap for my collection. I took out my own recycling and as I did I found my prescription from Dr. Mays. I found another pebble, and then I worked on my streamers and collages made from snack wrappers. I went to Those Were the Days and got some more embroidery floss for my malas and yarn paintings. Later I went to Walgreen’s and got some beef jerky, Hershey’s minibars, and Altoids. On my way I got a picture of a full moon over Ellis behind some clouds in a pitch black sky. Then I got back and talked to my granddad who suggested I tell the THRIVE students about the group in study hall or one of their classes. I read the reading for my World Masterpieces class while I was on the treadmill Notes From the Underground, which I thought was really good.  Then I made another mala from straws.

The next day I tried to submit my first photo but I couldn’t figure out this address I needed to type in to send it. Never-the-less, I still decided to take photos like that. I e-mailed Mr. B asking if I could come speak to one of his classes about the group. Then I ordered myself a sheet music book called The Lord of the Rings Trilogy Flute Solos and a Lonely Planet book on Mozambique. Then  I went to Hasting’s and got the Winter 2013 issue of Tricycle magazine, National Geographic’s Best City Weekends: Unforgettable Itineraries, Local Neighborhoods, 30 Insider Tips, the November/December 2013 issue of Native magazine, the Holiday 2013 issue of Woodcarving Illustrated, and the Winter 2013 issue of Do It Yourself magazine. I also recycled and sorted some bottles and cans I found along the way and when I got back. Then I made a pinwheel from a Kool-Aid pack. I also made twenty more flowers from straws. I read more of Notes From the Underground while I ran on the treadmill. I got back and did my laundry. Then I talked to Tyler for quite a while I made another mandala from straws. I also sent my mom the prescription numbers for my medications so she could refill them at home.

The next day I got three out of five questions right on a quiz for my World Masterpieces class, though I also got a bonus question right. Then I tried to get done my Algebra homework but again found myself to spaced out to concentrate that it took me a while to do several problems I normally knew how to do. I took a break during which I got the idea that while I didn’t have sixty milligrams of Vyvanse I was supposed to take I did have two thirty milligram pills, which I could take two of but decided to check with my dad who would know whether that would work. It turned out I wouldn’t be able to finish all the homework that night either however as I felt so exhausted from hearing about Tyler’s endless problems. I did talk to my dad though who said that two thirty milligram pills would be a good idea, though he also mentioned it didn’t work that way with every medication, for example, not all pills would have half the effect if you cut them in half. After that I made another bottle cap necklace for myself with a calligraphic piece by Thich Nhat Hanh printed on computer paper saying, “Peace is Every Step.” I decided I’d give my original necklace to Tyler, who might lose it, but giving it to him would still mean a lot to him. I also made seven more flowers from straws.

The next day I got a lot of the way done with yesterday’s assignment for my Algebra class during class time. Then I got back and worked on my second handbag made from snack wrappers, deciding to add one wrapper’s worth of links to it a day. Then after lunch I worked some more on my Algebra assignment before I had to go to my North American Indian class. After that I went to the Bowling Night where Tom came and we both excelled at the game, perhaps due to taking a Beginning Bowling class through the THRIVE program. Then I finished my Algebra homework and got a 95.12%. I got back and worked on my Thomas Jefferson bust while I talked to Tyler some more. After I finished running on the treadmill, I got the idea that maybe I would like, after I finished school and was waiting for my film career to take off, to work in helping with archaeological digs and hands-on cultural projects with kids with Down syndrome. I also got the idea to make an Inuit sorcerer figure from some of my plastic bottle caps. I talked to my dad who really liked the archaeological digging idea. I started working on my sorcerer figure and then took out my trash.

The next day in my Drawing I class I learned more about using different values to create contrast in an object. Then while I was at lunch Mr. B saw me and came over to my table telling me that, while he did not normally use class time for groups to talk about themselves, I could tell of my group to the THRIVE student organization and contact Ryan, who is their president. Later I went to my World Masterpieces class and got three out of five on the quiz. I got back and worked some more on my foil Thomas Jefferson bust. Later I made another toilet paper roll diorama of Erdene Zuu monastery in Mongolia. I also talked to my grandmom, who said she head from my mom that Sean Swindler would be coming down to UCM to check out the THRIVE program and help the UCM Autism Spectrum Support Group get more members. Then I worked on my Inuit sorcerer figure and then saw Abduction with some people from my hall. Then I worked on my bag woven from bags and my second handbag made from snack wrappers. I also talked to Tyler while I made another trellis square from bottle rings and twist-ties, and decided it was time to say goodbye when I finished. 

The net morning before I went to bed, I read in National Geographic about a Nigerian terrorist group called Boko Haram, who many Nigerians were so afraid of that they didn’t even say their name. I thought that sounded kind of like Lord Voldemort in Harry Potter, and then I realized that’s how I used to react whenever someone said the words “Asperger syndrome” or “autism.” After I woke up, did my meditation, and had breakfast, I went to my Algebra class where I passed the quiz. Then I did my daily work on my handbag made from snack wrappers. During my North American class, we watched a video on the controversy surrounding Native American mascots, which provoked such strong reactions from the people in class. As I saw it, a small part of me thought “that is the nature of prejudice and when I find love it will need to be with someone on the spectrum, who can understand the autistic struggle,” temporarily took hold of me like it never had before. As I thought this, Laci, who was sitting next to me, looked as though she’d just been told she was laid off a job. Suddenly, I thought perhaps I was wrong to think that, and that maybe that thinking is what has held back people with autism for so long. Really, I was just divided in two from years of prejudice and discrimination, the former which still has not stopped for me.

I worked on some streamers, scrapbook covers, and collages made from snack wrappers when I got back. I also visited the UCM art gallery where I got started on my gallery trip paper for my Drawing I class, critiquing an intaglio print. Later I ate dinner with Josh, Mary, Oscar, and Levi, and two other THRIVE students. Then I took out my trash and made three more stamps from plastic bottle caps and Styrofoam and an earth magnet to hang on my fridge. After running on the treadmill, I went to the Turkey Bowl with Hillary, Phillip, Mardy, and Ryan. I thought how it is often believed that people with autism don’t want relationships, or don’t care for the physical aspects of it, but I think it’s really that they don’t understand the social aspect to it. But I felt quite bad about my own ablest thoughts in my North American Indian class, especially seeing many of the people I had seen that day did not deserve to be tarred that way, which was no fairer than being denied access to society for their disability. I thought I did need to be more open in love, very uncertain of how it would turn out.

Joining Clubs and Organizations

After the day after Labor Day had started, I read a lot of the reading of The Odyssey before my Algebra class. Then during class I heard Mrs. North say see was extending the deadline of the quiz because of Labor Day weekend. I took the real quiz during class, and I got one hundred percent. After that I got back my study guide with 4.5 out of 5 points. Then I got more than halfway through with the math review.

Back in Ellis I found a way to make my penguin statues stand up during lunch. In my book on contemplative photography, I read how color and texture of an object can create a metaphoric quality, like the crack in a glass I once took a photo of, and how you zoom in and out in with your camera can affect the feeling of a photo. On my way to class I took some more photos. Before it started, I read more the reading for The Odyssey.

             During my North American Indian class I felt pretty well able to connect everything being said in the lecture. I heard the Anthropology Club was meeting the next day at six, also remembering how many autistic people, not including myself, may feel uncomfortable in many student groups, so my group would give them one where they would feel comfortable. After class as I sorted some recycling and a guy passing by me saw me and said, “You’re a good man.” I took some more pictures and got some more pebbles on my way back, as I took a lot of recycling to the recycling bin in the Ellis courtyard. When I got back, I worked on my lampshade made from straws, my handbag for Emily, and my penguins made from snack wrappers. I also read more of the reading for The Odyssey and started my first response paper. 

I texted Emily during dinner though I never heard back from her. I also took some more pictures and learned to slow down the pace of my life even more when I saw apple pie in the Dining hall again. After finishing dinner and writing in my meditation journal, I read more of The Odyssey and started enjoying it, finding it very exciting. I also started seeing from a picture of the stairwell how what my contemplative photography book said about zooming in and out with your camera is very true. Then I talked to Tyler who said that, and he said I treat him like a real brother. 

The next day I went to my Drawing I class and we learned to draw a still-life by drawing only the negative shapes, and I learned how drawing slanted lines helps give them more character. Outside my art class, when our teacher asked us to take a ten-minute break, I saw a sign for a group called the Print Club, which was meeting in Room 306 of the Grinstead Building on Friday at six. After class I learned to use snack wrappers to make the covers of scrapbooks. Then I went to my World Masterpieces class where I took a quiz and got five out of five on it. After class I got the idea to make a pin cushion using a snack wrapper and laundry lent.

After I made some change at the bank, I scheduled an appointment with Dr. Mayfield for the next day at nine. Then I got some more tape and a hole-puncher at the Union bookstore. When I got back to Ellis I sorted some more recycling in the halls. Then I worked on my shopping bag woven from Walmart bags and tried making a pin cushion with laundry lent and a snack wrapper. I also made a chain bracelet from snack wrappers, but my penguins made from snack wrappers went pretty bad and sadly I ended up throwing all but one, which I thought went alright, away.

I went to Crazy Dog’s for dinner where I got a new bottle cap for my collection from my beer, and I read on my phone that a frying pan could help shrink snack wrappers and unfortunately got some buffalo wing sauce on my shorts with no time to change before the Anthropology Club meeting.  On my way there I did take a few pictures, however. I got to the building where my North American India class met and saw the instructor, Dr. Yelton. I said, “Is this where the Anthropology Club meets?”

             “Yes, come on in,” he said.

I went inside and sat down. Laci, a girl from my class, gave a presentation on a law called NAGPRA, which required all federally funded agencies to record any Native American remains they found, which thought would be a good way to preserve their cultures. After the meeting was over, I complimented Laci on her presentation. Then I went back to my dorm, and I worked on my lampshade and my handbag. I made two more chain bracelets from snack wrappers while running on the treadmill that night, using my pocketknife to cut them up, and after they were done, I realized they would need to be shrunken to be more snug and secure. 

I got back and talked to Tyler on the phone during Late Night and told him I would have to hang up at ten so I could get back and write in my meditation journal, and I reminded him of that as it was three minutes until ten and at ten o’clock, I told him I had to hang up and he understood. I wrote down what I did for my meditation journal before I saw I had a call from my dad. I called him and he said he called to ask me how I was doing, and I told him I was doing pretty good. He also said I ought to call my grandparents to let them know how I was doing and that my grandparents could still be up at that hour. After I was done talking to him, I called my grandparents to tell them I was doing great, for which they were thrilled. After talking to all of them, I decided to save the rest of my meditation journal entry for the next day. 

The next day I went to my appointment with Dr. Mayfield at nine. I told her about my idea to have a poster board hung out in the Union for the group about autism, and possibly do these prizes for people getting a certain number of people to sign the Friend of Autism Pledge and she really liked my design for these prizes which said “Autistic Pride” above a rainbow infinite sign, she having heard only of the rainbow sign being used in the autism community. For the poster board she advised me to go to the front desk in the Union and fill out a form. She also advised me to get a student registration form filled out, which I could get at the Office of Student Activities, and to go to Union Room 307 about reserving a room for the group to meet. She then said she was waiting for a call from a journalist who wanted to do a report on autism over the phone and asked me if I would like to take part in it. I said certainly and she said I could try and get the things she mentioned done in the fifteen minutes before she should call back. I got a form from the Office of Student Activities, which I got all filled out except for a secondary student contact and out faculty advisor’s (Dr. Mayfield’s) signature. I went back and found out the journalist had not yet called back, and I learned Disability Awareness Month would be held from October 7th to the 14th and that would be a good time to hang up the board in the Union. I filled out a form at the front desk and then got a copy of it. When I got back, Dr. Mayfield said the journalist had not yet called back, so I left to do some other things.

I got back to the dorm and made two pencil cups from Pringles cans. Then I made a card for Phil to thank him for the hours he gave me over the summer, gluing on it a picture of a leaf I had taken. Later I went to my Algebra class and got most of the way done with the review. When I got back, I worked more on my trellises made from twist-ties. Then I went to my North American Indian class, where I learned more about how archaeology works and how you could, for example, tell if a flint point is supposed to be an arrowhead by how heavy it is.

When I got back to my dorm I worked on my lampshade some more. I worked on my handbag some more during dinner and a girl wiping tables, a shirt serene Indian girl passing by mine, asked me what I was doing. I told her about how I was making a handbag, which I told Emily about, and she loved that idea. She took a picture of it with her phone and said, “She’s lucky to have you.” 

 After dinner I finished making one of my bracelets made from snack wrappers. Then I wrote in my meditation journal, this entry about both the day after I meditated from both today and the day before. I got back and I called my mom to tell her I was doing great at UCM. She was really thrilled. The next day at my Drawing I class I learned to taper the lines while we worked on drawing just the corners in class. Between my classes I realized I could weave a bracelet out of bag strips, and I read most of the reading for my World Masterpieces class. After my World Masterpieces class I mailed my thank you note to Phil. I took some more photos around campus then went to the Print Club meeting, where I found out they were thinking of doing printed signs making awareness of various causes in Warrensburg and campus organizations so we may be able to make some for the UCM Autism Spectrum Support Group. Then we elected a president, vice president, secretary, and treasurer, and I added my name to the list. Afterwards I ate dinner at the Hong Kong Express getting a new Snapple cap from my drink. When I got back, I worked more on my handbag.