Sunday, October 18, 2015

trolleys and pumpkins and autism

We recently were able to take the bird to a really cool autism event.  A trolley ride on a 100 year old trolley.  Since her love of Daniel Tiger has not waned and we had the weekend free, we made the 3 1/2 hour trek to the twin cities.

What a wonderful experience!

The bird likes to know exactly where we are and how many miles/blocks we have to go and how many miles/blocks we have already journeyed.  It was a long 3 1/2 hours!

I was worried she would melt down.  I was worried the wind would bother her or her hair would touch her face or someone would breathe incorrectly next to her or there wouldn't be any pumpkins the right shape or size or....well, you know, autism.

I forgot that this event was specifically for autistic kiddos.  I wouldn't have to have apologies handy or excuses on the ready.  We would just get to be.

What a GIFT!!!

To be.  Nothing more...no need to be polite or happy or well-adjusted or talkative or quiet or....anything.  To just be whatever we are at the time.

The event lasted around an hour.  The bird won the grand prize!

She laughed and smiled and had her picture taken and...just was.