You are what you eat
Yesterday I decided to have lunch among the Panerians. The West Springfield Panera has some of the best fresh sandwiches and salads around. When I went in, to my surprise, I saw my friend Matt, in a corner facing the door, slouched behind a tall laptop.
“What brings you here?” I asked.
“This place has the best girls of any restaurant in Western Mass.” His answer would have surprised me, but I have long experience of similar responses from him.
“With your Asperger’s, you probably don’t even notice.” He paused, but I didn’t say anything. I knew any possible response would leave me sounding dumb.
“You’re always reading.”
I realized I needed a girl-oriented response, and fast. All I could come up with was, “Why do you think the girls here are best?”
His answer surprised me. “This place has the healthiest food. It’s trendy. It’s obvious. The people that eat the best look the best.”
"Do think that's true for guys too?"
"Of course, he said," sucking in his belly and straightening up a bit.
I considered my own sorry feeding habits, and slothful, disheveled appearance.
Woof, I said.
Is that really true?
I made a resolution. I will not catch and eat anything more from the edge of the road. I will only eat trendy, healthy food. And this time, next year, I will be one of THEM.
“What brings you here?” I asked.
“This place has the best girls of any restaurant in Western Mass.” His answer would have surprised me, but I have long experience of similar responses from him.
“With your Asperger’s, you probably don’t even notice.” He paused, but I didn’t say anything. I knew any possible response would leave me sounding dumb.
“You’re always reading.”
I realized I needed a girl-oriented response, and fast. All I could come up with was, “Why do you think the girls here are best?”
His answer surprised me. “This place has the healthiest food. It’s trendy. It’s obvious. The people that eat the best look the best.”
"Do think that's true for guys too?"
"Of course, he said," sucking in his belly and straightening up a bit.
I considered my own sorry feeding habits, and slothful, disheveled appearance.
Woof, I said.
Is that really true?
I made a resolution. I will not catch and eat anything more from the edge of the road. I will only eat trendy, healthy food. And this time, next year, I will be one of THEM.
Comments
I have a son who, though never "tested", we are pretty sure has A.S.
Thank you for showing the world that Aspberger's isn't a thing to be pitied or feared or mourned. It is a difference to be embraced. It is just another thing that makes a person an individual! God forbid if we were all alike!
Thank you, thank you, thank you, for this blog. It gives me great hope for my son.
P.S. I'm with Trish. Road kill is definitely on the "not-to-do" list!
Check me out?
There's nothing like a freshly squashed feast.
Perhaps next time Matt should leave the laptop at work, then go around making helpless conversation with the 'best girls.'
Here's the test, Walk in to Foody Goody Buffet or some other such restaurant and do a visual survey. Then Panera. You WILL notice a difference, just as you would when specating at a Ironman level triathlon as compared to a NASCAR race. There are always exceptions to the rule, but in averages more fit people make better choices about their activity and nutrient intake.
As for the lap top. My wife is beautiful and I am happily married. So I will keep the lap top open and on and I will continue to read while I eat. (and people watch) Afterall, trying to keep up with an intellect like John's, which is basically impossible, I have to keep veiwing facts, research and current events any chance I get. Someone once told me that if you read from several sources everyday for even just 20 minutes, you may not be an expert, but you can damn well hold a conversation with just about anyone.