The story of my first speeding ticket is one I've told countless times and quotes from that story have wiggled their way into my vernacular. Read it here and I'm sure you'll start saying "I only listen to gospel!"
The story of my second speeding ticket is boring, not even worth talking about, except to shake your head at me for getting two tickets. You know why it was boring? He wasn't there.
Recently, my parents and I went with him to Tahoe Joe's for his birthday. He did all kinds of his usual embarrassing moves like avoiding eye contact and responding to questions like Scooby-doo but the server thought he was great! When she came to deliver his birthday cheesecake, he wasn't in his seat. She looked so disappointed and then relieved to hear that he was just in the restroom and would be right back. She stood there and waited for him, holding the cheesecake with the candle in it, armed with a lighter to start the celebration as soon as he returned. He had made a connection with her and as she said good-bye to us, she looked at him and said, "You come back and see me again soon, okay?" I'm sure she wouldn't mind if the rest of us showed up but she was really only talking to him.
I've been to that restaurant countless times and nothing that memorable has happened. You know why? He wasn't there.
Last night my whole family went to see Brant Hansen's Misfits Tour with Producer Sherri and special guest Jason Gray. It was "an incredible night of awesomeness" just like Brant had been repeatedly promising on the radio for weeks. They were all so funny that by the end my face and my throat hurt from laughing so much! It was all memorable but the moment I will remember the longest was at the end of the night during the meet and greet.
I went through the line the first time with my brother Edward and his family. I was nervous because I always get that way when I am about to meet people that I admire. Everything went well. I got a big hug from Sherri and a solid handshake from Brant. They both signed my copy of Blessed are the Misfits and it was wonderful to meet them. Really wonderful. But it wasn't an experience to write about and expect other people to think was interesting. You know why? He wasn't there.
About 5 seconds after that, he walked up to me and said, "I want to meet him!" I looked behind me and saw that my turn was over and the next people were well into their picture taking, hugging, and handshaking so we couldn't just jump back into the space and expect positive attention. Then I looked at the line that stretched across the room, into the hallway, and around the corner and said, "Okay, but we're gonna have to get in the back of the line." I thought he might be dissuaded but he headed for the hallway and soon we were standing near the bathrooms hoping our rides wouldn't leave without us.
On their radio show and podcast, Brant and Sherri often talk about being introverted and extroverted, reading social cues, high fives, hugs, eye contact, and what they've learned from each other about social interactions. Brant talks about having difficulty both reading and using social cues. He has autism so he learns to follow rules rather than instinct when he's interacting with people who don't have autism. So as the line is moving forward, I'm wondering how this interaction is going to go between Brant and him. He has an intellectual disability and Brant has autism. He doesn't follow social rules and Brant memorizes them. This interaction is bound to be interesting.
It's almost our turn so I review the plan. We will say hi, take a picture, and move on. (Sure we will.) "Do you want to wear your hat in the picture?" He takes it off. "Do you want to be in the picture by yourself or do you want us in it with you?" "Ya, you guys too," he says to me and our sister-in-law.
Before I even notice that the people ahead of us are done, I hear "HEYYYYY BUDDY!!!" He's rocking and rolling. High fives, side hugs, clearing his throat, putting his hand on his neck and singing low notes (off key), laughing really loudly, smiling, not making eye contact, striking lots of poses for the picture while showing off his singing "skills". Then he starts dancing. Oh my.
As we are taking the picture, I hear Brant say,"This is my favorite picture of the night!" I looked at Brant and his face is glowing with joy. Seriously? This is the guy who says that people usually see his facial expressions and think he's angry even though he's not. But, of course, not in this moment. He's all smiles as Nathan gives Brant his hat and Brant understands that Nathan wants him to sign it. He steps over to meet Sherri and I'm just trying to stay out of the way as he starts what looks like a touchdown celebration dance. She doesn't miss a beat and starts dancing too! He hands her his hat and she signs it too. He loves people and loves autographs. Sherri is still dancing as Nathan walks away. I'm still just trying to stay out of the way.
I will remember it as the night I got to meet Brant and Sherri and the night that Brant and Sherri got to meet Nathan. Suddenly, he turned into the celebrity they were excited to meet! I don't know how he manages to, in the same moment, be completely embarrassing to me and an incredible blessing to everyone else. He's got a gift. Best picture of the night? I guess. Most memorable? Absolutely!
 |
| Singing during the picture = |
 |
| My moment was wonderful. I will remember it but I don't expect they will. It went just like all of the other pictures went. There was no singing OR dancing. |
 |
| This picture is my favorite because these two had already bonded and I'm just trying to catch up. |
