I heard someone say something strange, “I’m living the dream, man it’s good.”
I think he was a little weird. How could you be living a dream and why is it only for men? You’d have to be asleep.
My mum tells me I take things literally. I guess that means I think people say what they mean. Mum says he was probably smiling when he said it but I didn’t notice a smile. Mum’s says it’s my “aspburger” autism. I don’t know why burgers or even snakes have anything to do with it.
People should say what they mean.
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Ross's Writing Blog 
Once Upon an Equine
March 26, 2012 at 14:52
I really enjoyed your story. It makes a lot of sense to me, having recently attended a talk by Temple Grandin, and recently watched the movie about her life. Your snake and burger reference is very clever.
Ross Mannell
March 26, 2012 at 22:19
Thanks for the comment.
Over the years, I’ve had a few aspergers children in my classes. They tended to be quite bright but took things very literally and once they had decided something was so, they felt there was no other explanation, interesting and wonderful kids. I still have contact with two and they are doing well, one interested in becoming a high school maths teacher as he said I always seemed to have fun teaching and the other is a keen musician hoping to further his studies. 🙂
MiracleMommy
March 27, 2012 at 08:42
That’s a wonderful insight into the inner workings of their minds!
Ross Mannell
March 31, 2012 at 22:24
Thanks for the comment.
Having worked with aspergers children, they fascinated me with their intelligence yet often inability to read social situations.
Judee
March 28, 2012 at 00:46
Excellent, and very astute, as I can imagine one with aspergers might have trouble with the nuances of expression. Well done!
If you get a chance:
http://writetuit.wordpress.com/2012/03/25/saturday-centus-living-the-dream/
Ross Mannell
March 31, 2012 at 22:32
Thanks for the comment.
One advantage for an aspergers child is their ability to function quite highly in society. I’ve heard it suggested Einstein may have been an asperger. How brilliant a mind he had.
Anita
March 28, 2012 at 01:51
Good one , Ross! Words are weird, aren’t they? But oh so fun…
I’ve worked with an aspergers child or two. They do say the most interesting things. I had one young boy who barely took a breath between sentences.
Ross Mannell
March 31, 2012 at 22:39
Thanks for the comment.
Each asperger child I’ve dealt with is as individual as any other child in a class. The discovery is how much they know when they take a topic to heart, They can become class experts on their chosen topic.
What interesting minds children can have as they explain their world in their limited terms. A favourite example was from a four year old second cousin some years back.
On hearing someone say the man lived in Wales, she commented, “You can’t live in whales.”
A number laughed yet I explained her logic, in terms of her level of experience, was sound. 🙂
Jenny Matlock
April 13, 2012 at 08:01
Ross! You are the only one that picked up on the irony of that statement.
I wonder, sometimes, how literal people exist in our imprecise world.
This was really wonderful.