Endangered Species
We were beaming over our new iPhones at the
weekly small group gathering when he blurted out
I want to be buried naked in the earth with no casket.
Yeah, that’s a segue to nothing, nowhere; just one more
instance when people don’t know what to do with him. Another example is the time two weeks ago at the hoity-toity fundraiser when he pushed his food back toward the waiter and said This tastes like dog shit. The chef was mortified. But strangely enough people endure his unsentimental mercies, they are repelled yet drawn at the same time. Its not that he’s a social misfit or god in heaven help us the
misunderstood artist. No, its that he seems, somehow, to have freed himself from the junk of our culture. His life is
nourishing. He’s one of the few remaining substantial men.
instance when people don’t know what to do with him. Another example is the time two weeks ago at the hoity-toity fundraiser when he pushed his food back toward the waiter and said This tastes like dog shit. The chef was mortified. But strangely enough people endure his unsentimental mercies, they are repelled yet drawn at the same time. Its not that he’s a social misfit or god in heaven help us the
misunderstood artist. No, its that he seems, somehow, to have freed himself from the junk of our culture. His life is
nourishing. He’s one of the few remaining substantial men.
As I think on & chew on this, it gives me hope. See, when you raise a son w/Asperger’s, the bullshit is often cut away–sometimes embarrassingly so in our polite, iPhone-checking culture. His lenses are hyper focused upon what is real. What is true. He often has to plod along, so painfully, to address our silly rabbit rules. Nice to be reminded that truth/substance has its worth.
Thanks, Gretchen…its funny how we are so often embarrassed in the presence of truth; then again maybe its sad. I’m glad he’s got you for a Mom.
Thanks, John.
You know, that IS a segue to nothing! And it does sound a lot like Asperger’s, actually. And sometimes, when the filters are a little off kilter, real stuff does come tumbling out and you discover a person of real substance. YOU ALWAYS MAKE ME THINK. And I believe it is good to do so. Thank you.