Well...I only got my Autism Spectrum Disorder, Level 1 (Mild) diagnosis in 2019, shortly before my 64th birthday. From 2013 to 2019 I wasn't diagnosed...I had the traits and symptoms but did not have a diagnosis and had not even heard of the Autism Spectrum. Before 2013 the DSM would've characterized me as having Asperger's Syndrome. Except, that wasn't even in the DSM until 1994 the year I turned 40. Before that I was just quirky. ("Quirky" is a reasonably nice description. I'm sure I was also often described much less nicely.)
Please ignore my playing with colors. I distrust computers but they are great toys. I like playing with BB code!
So, I had 65 years of being clueless.
Yes, I was picked on a lot. Yes, I was unhappy a lot. I just kept going forward.
By my 40s I'd given up on ever finding romance. But, to my great surprise, in my early 40s I finally met a gal who was good enough for me and crazy enough to have me. We've been married for 21 years now.
Oh, I'm an extremely introverted Aspie and she's ADHD, by the way. We share many interests but approach the world very differently. The Pandemic has really cramped her style...and mainly I miss people asking me if I want a soda with my meal.
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When diagnosed I bought champagne!
I finally knew why people were strange.