Reading the Train Appreciation thread brought to mind a Union member from the Local in the next County over who I just realized may be on the spectrum. He is a total Train fanatic, and at work he wears either a blue and white striped train hat or Greek fishermans hat when at break or going in or out the gate to work. He discusses Trains obsessively and occasionally does the same with other subjects. One such subject is the Three Stooges, back in summer of 05 we were on a job and got to talking about the Three Stooges and I mentioned I had the book written by Moe Howard, which I ended up loaning to him. He read the book in one night and apparently memorized it because he kept referring to parts of it that I had long since forgotten and talked about it to the point that it was more than I wanted to hear, but he is my friend even if we only see each other on a job every couple of years or so, so I let him go on about it. Since he could not locate a copy of the book and was going batty about it I just let him have my copy. He was so effusive in thanking me it was like I gave him the original of The Night Watch or something. When this guy started telling me how he had been bullied in Jr High and High School I attributed this mostly to him being 5'3" tall and of slight build, not knowing about AS and the affinity that bullies have for some AS people. I never thought that this guy was wierd or unusual, but other people have said so occasionally. Those who say it in a non judgemental manner I let their statement stand but the couple of times it sounded unflattering I've asked if it was necessary to be an a**hole. Next time I see this guy I am going to discretely bring up the subject of AS/Autism and see what his response is.
24 May 2008, 4:07 pm
