I had a turning point moment last week when I happened upon Howard Stern interviewing Jerry Seinfeld on radio (recorded 9/25/17). Seinfeld is usually reticent to reveal himself in interviews but these are yappy friends and he let his guard down.
At one point Howard asks, "Are you on the spectrum? Do you think you’re on the spectrum” and Jerry says, "They don’t take the spectrum out that far."
Howard: “Do you think you have some sort of disorder?”
Jerry: “It’s worked for me so I wouldn’t call it a disorder. It’s a … It’s a….. There’s no question our personalities – and I would put you in the same category – are not typical.”
Howard: “No.”
Jerry: “And there’s a lot of similarities between you and I.”
Howard: “Do you find there are times you are pretending to be human or trying to pass for human.”
Jerry: “Yes, I call that 99.9% of my day.”
Howard: “Well then we’re the same!”
That's when it hit me that these funny flaming aspies are me!!!
Until this, I’d long suspected I was on the spectrum somewhere, but suddenly now I was seeing myself as a flaming aspie!
I am using the word “aspie” as a term of endearment for all of us kind, intelligent humans who have a need to pretend to be human most of the time.
When I read about the characteristics that land a person “on the spectrum,” many resonate with me but not nearly as much as the simple commonality I share with Howard and Jerry and others I hope to meet going forward.
Yes, I want to meet more flaming aspies who are making the best of their difference, some delightfully out loud. I want to video and write about those who have inspirational, sometimes hilarious stories to tell.
Why?
For one thing, I suspect there are a lot of aspies young and old out there who can use some hope that they are not alone; that pretending to be human can be a fine art, and the next best thing to actually being one .
And second, it could be so much fun. We’ll see about that…..
If I see indication that people have are interested in this conversation, I’ll next do a post with my story.
At one point Howard asks, "Are you on the spectrum? Do you think you’re on the spectrum” and Jerry says, "They don’t take the spectrum out that far."
Howard: “Do you think you have some sort of disorder?”
Jerry: “It’s worked for me so I wouldn’t call it a disorder. It’s a … It’s a….. There’s no question our personalities – and I would put you in the same category – are not typical.”
Howard: “No.”
Jerry: “And there’s a lot of similarities between you and I.”
Howard: “Do you find there are times you are pretending to be human or trying to pass for human.”
Jerry: “Yes, I call that 99.9% of my day.”
Howard: “Well then we’re the same!”
That's when it hit me that these funny flaming aspies are me!!!
Until this, I’d long suspected I was on the spectrum somewhere, but suddenly now I was seeing myself as a flaming aspie!
I am using the word “aspie” as a term of endearment for all of us kind, intelligent humans who have a need to pretend to be human most of the time.
When I read about the characteristics that land a person “on the spectrum,” many resonate with me but not nearly as much as the simple commonality I share with Howard and Jerry and others I hope to meet going forward.
Yes, I want to meet more flaming aspies who are making the best of their difference, some delightfully out loud. I want to video and write about those who have inspirational, sometimes hilarious stories to tell.
Why?
For one thing, I suspect there are a lot of aspies young and old out there who can use some hope that they are not alone; that pretending to be human can be a fine art, and the next best thing to actually being one .
And second, it could be so much fun. We’ll see about that…..
If I see indication that people have are interested in this conversation, I’ll next do a post with my story.
