"When I heard we were going swimming today it filled my heart with joy!" said the 8 yr old

Autism

Me " so you know when you went and played and worked with the doctor at the hospital last month?"
8yr old "yes"

Me "well do you want to know what she said? She said you were so smart, so charming and a wonderful little girl."

8yr old "I all ready knew that"

Me " well she also said something else. She said that you have autism"

8 yr old "WHAT?!" she cups her cheeks grinning "I have autism?! That's crazy! I have too many disabilities. Oh well. I guess I will just have to live with it!" and off she skips.

I on the other hand with her sweetness and courage in all that she faces have developed a big case of leaky eye. I always knew she had to be on the spectrum from the time she was nine months old. That's not what has me leaking. She is just the best kid ever. She takes on whatever life hands her and moves on. Sure she has her moments and puts the school through their paces but if ever there were to be a picture of strength, determination, bravery and perseverance in the dictionary it would be her beautiful smiling face you would see.

I will say that knowing something and wanting it labelled in order to access the best resources and for folks to have a reference in how to approach her on top of my instructions and being given the label trigger conflicting emotions. On the one hand someone else saw what I saw and who has all sorts of big capital letters before and after their name. On the other hand it is one more diagnosis. In no way does it change anything about her in fact it makes me love her more and want to continue to rise to the occasion for her but no one wants their child to have more hurdles in life.

The reality I guess as I said before is she is still the same girl that she was before eleven o'clock this morning. Instead of letters behind her name for now she has a lot of big words. Impressive in their own right as she dispels any preconceived notions about what a kid who carries them should be like.

And we carry on.

making friends where ever I go these days

A couple in their seventies drove up to me in the bus in a parking lot, rolled down their window and shouted profanities at me.  Apparently they were unimpressed with where I stopped the bus while the teen was in getting our lunch.

It seems they thought that the hundred and fifty year old driver did not have enough space to back out of his parking spot.  From where I was sitting they were out of the parking spot on the opposite side of where they were parked yelling at me so it seems they did get out.   In my defence they had another whole space between me and them when I parked.

In case you are wondering I am an asshole and a few other things.  There are a few folks in social services right now that share the same sentiment so she's in powerful company.

My response was to smile and say "thank you.  Have a nice day" which was met with more profanity. I poked the bear just a little and asked if she kissed her grandchildren with that mouth.  Her witty reply was she has no grandchildren.....

Nuff said

Things I find worth commenting on so far today...

-toast does not become toast unless the toaster is pushed down

-every time I see pictures of Caitlyn Jenner I have to do a double take to see if its Courtney Cox (you know, Monica from Friends?)

-the big man's bus is being driven by Santa Claus today. He did not say he was Santa and I did not ask if he was Santa and he wasn't wearing his red work uniform but I know it was him.

-when a dog is determined to run up her vet bill in an attempt to see if I like her enough to pay it, a doggie onesie nor cone of shame (that she has no problem getting out of) will prevent her from nonstop licking of her $700 wound

An excerpt from an email sent to the grade 12's last night

"Our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ knows that most of you desperately need to know how to use commas. I've attached the comma rules sheet. Please review it. I'm begging you."

Class of 2015

 It has been very busy around here.  The two teens graduated high school yesterday.  Their graduating class was only fifty five so the ceremony was meaningful and personalized.  The girls were of course beautiful and had a wonderful time.  It has really brought home to them that their school days are few in number.  For one it is reason to do a big dance of joy and the other feels a bit sad at the prospect.