Weather Reports from the Autism Front, James C. Wilson

Sam and Sister Amy at their Favorite Ice Cream Parlor

Sam Update

My son Sam, the ‘Family Gangsta,” turned 30 this past December.  He’s made enormous progress in controlling his impulses and aggressive behaviors, so much so that my wife and I really haven’t had any occasion to worry about these issues.  Over the years Sam has mellowed with age and experience.  He now says he’s happy with his life and that he’s found his “place in the world,” by which he means (I think) our neighborhood and his bachelor pad in our basement, which he has dubbed the Yellow Submarine.  Even though he still doesn’t work, he’s busy all day with his rap music and his online weather websites, from which he tracks serious storms around the country.  I’m proud of Sam and all he’s accomplished.  I respect him for all the hard work he puts in trying to find a way to live in a neuro-typical dominated world.  And I’m so glad that we didn’t give up on Sam during his awful teen years when the aggressive behaviors threatened to make his life impossible.  Not only did we not give up on him, we’ve come to respect his neurodiversity.

From time to time we get wonderful reports from his other companions.  I wanted to share one of these reports, written by the youngest of Sam’s companions.  Sam and Mike go out to movies and dinner twice a week.  Not long ago they went to their favorite restaurant, Uno’s, for pizza.  Sam’s encounter with his favorite Uno’s server, Olivia, is a classic:

Last Friday Sam did one of the sweetest things I’ve seen.  It was Olivia’s bday and after we were done eating she came over to talk and Sam stood up and said, “Olivia I want to tell you that you are my favorite server I’ve ever had. I hope for your birthday and for the rest of your life that you get everything you want and nothing bad ever happens to you, cuz I really like talking to you and you deserve the best out of life.”  Olivia and I both stood there for a second with our mouths wide open (because of how sincere he sounded) and then Olivia said, “Wow Sam I think I’m about to cry right now, that’s the sweetest thing anyone’s ever said to me, can I give you a hug?  You and Mike are my favorite customers I’ve ever had and you just made my birthday!”  Sam hugged a very pregnant Olivia for about 10 seconds and her and I both got a little teary eyed. After the hug Sam said, “I mean it Olivia I hope you get everything you want out of life.” She said, “Thank you so much Sam” and then looked at me and said, “WOW, what a great guy!”