I'm what I s'pose you all would call an NT. Though I'm not completely normal, having been diagnosed with ADHD when I was 4 and subsequently being medicated for the next 14 years of my life (various medications; Ritilin, Adderal, Cylert, etc.).
Well, I dated a bit in high school, and eventually I fell in love with my childhood friend, Amber. She had a funny way of behaving, but I didn't mind. After all, I was far from normal. And so, we went out to arcades, and to various other locations, having the best time we could, and really, it felt natural. We had started just sorta going out as friends, and it gradually just sort of became more.
When she first told me she had Asperger's Syndrome, I didn't know what it was. Didn't much care either, to be honest; It seemed like everyone had something wrong, and it didn't really bother me. I didn't think it was that big of a deal, really; I mean, she acted normal enough, I thought. In college, though, I studied it more, and i'm glad I did.
Well, as I've gotten closer to her, I've seen more and more of her odd behaviors. The obsessive kind of little things, her extreme dislike of little annoying things, and her difficulty discerning subtleties.
However, these things don't bother me; in fact, I kinda like them. She's easy to deal with, and genuinely sweet, thought it's not always that obvious. She has an almost obsessive interest in video games and anime; most specifically, World of Warcraft and Zelda. She even video taped herself playing through Ocarina of Time so that she can watch the movie of it.
I love these little things, though. And when i'm with her, it is never a problem. I know her well enough that I behave in a manner that she finds pleasant, and she tries to always make sure I know that she loves me :)
An aspie finding love isn't hard, especially if he/she finds a person willing to work with them.
The problem is other people; my family doesn't like her. They tell me that I shouldn't date her, that she's more trouble than she's worth, etc. My sister ABSOLUTELY hates anything that doesn't act like she thinks it should, and she can't even be in the same room as Amber. My mother doesn't like Amber's AS, and can't understand how I wouldn't be bothered by it. My father is scared that it may be passed on to our children. The only one who I can really count on is my little 9 year old sister. She's still young enough that she doesn't have her mind set on any one way people should act; Amber's different, she expects that. Everyone else, though, I'm still gonna have to talk with.
I just thought I'd share our story, Amber and I. I got her a job working in the Pharmacy where I used to work running the register. She loves her job, and earns a little money that she can use to buy all the little things she wants, and it makes her happy.
We went to college together; her for Psychology (where she studied AS more thoroughly), and I went for Computer Networking (thank the Ritilin for that; try spending years and years soaked in medication and overly-focused on computers and all the pretty wires without aquiring a love for them).
Her and I will be married in January, and we both look forward to it. Though we have oftened wondered about our relationship and if the AS will present any future problems, I've done my best to keep her outlook cheerful. I look forward to my little Aspie becoming my wife soon, and us sharing our lives together. Other people can say what they want to about Amber; I'm never as happy as when she's smiling at me.
:)
Just thought I'd share our story.
-Matt and Amber, a Nerd and his Aspie :)
22 Sep 2006, 12:32 pm
. She got the bonus disc for the gamecube that includes the Master Quest version (the real hard version of OOT).
