da plane da plane

It's been a very long time since I have written a new blog about my life with a son on the autism spectrum.  I have been thinking about it throughout the years, but life continues to get in the way!  

My son is 32 - he's smart, funny without knowing it, gorgeous (no bias there), observant, and repetative.  If you see him on the street, you probably would not think "he has autism" ...you'd most likely think  "what is up with that shady guy...he walks the same route three or more times a day - what's up with him?!?!".  Well....if you'd look closer you'd see a man (yikes - when did that happen?) who is very observant and likes to walk in order to burn some energy and anxiety off.  He'd be great as a neighborhood watch person, he would be the person to talk to (as long as you asked the right questions) on any odd disturbances in the neighboorhood.  LOL  He knows where everything is and when something changes. 

During this world wide pandemic of Covid, we have been going on car rides every day since all of his Special Olympics activities have been cancelled.  We live in the far west suburbs of Chicago, so going out to the country for a ride is just going west....more farmland out west! 

One day, on our many rides, we came across a plane - yes an airplane(see picture below)  - in the middle of a field!  One day it just appeared!  It wasn't there - then the next day - BOOM - an airplane!! We continue to take rides and about 3 times a week we pass this plane.  So...let me think...that would be 57 times we've gone past this plane in the field. This is the conversation I have with my son in the car EVERY.SINGLE.TIME (57 times) we pass this plane...

Josh - There's the plane

Me - yep

Josh - It's still there

Me - yep

Josh - How did it get there?

Me - I have no idea

Josh - I wonder how it got there...

Me - .............

Josh - Someone flew it there

Me - ................

Josh - Someone must have flew it there

Me - .........................

Josh - There isn't an airport nearby?

Me - I don't think so

Josh - It probably doesn't work, but it's real

Me - I doubt it works, maybe someone towed it there

Josh - It's a big plane

Me - yes

Josh - How'd it get there?

Me - ..............

Josh - I just don't know how it got there...it wasn't there before

Now, you might think this is a just a regular conversation, BUT when it's the EXACT same conversation 3x a week, that would be approx 45 times....you might start to think - wow!  Deja vu' !!

Being a mom, I used to offer up suggestions and try and get him to use some critical thinking and problem solving skills, but after about the 12th time of passing this plane and listening to the same exact questions, my responses are now are pretty monotone.

These are the times when I think autism is lurking.....it's always there, just lurking...waiting to the perfect time to well....lurk.

I'll let you know if the conversation ever changes............