My dear friend K has a 20 year old son who’s autistic. Let’s call him L. Even though L has impaired social behaviors and human interactions, he’s extremely talented in art, music, horseback riding and swimming.
It’s been four years since I became friends with K and her family. I’ve had the privilege to engage in many social activities and family gatherings with them. My observation tells me that despite autism this young prodigy has a keen sense of people and things around him. He might not be verbal about his feelings but oftentimes he expresses in his artwork. And recently he surprises us by demonstrating his taste of gourmet food with a great sense of humor.
Thanks to his artistic talent. L is invited by Musée du Louvre to visit Paris and K has to accompany him to France over the summer.
One night when they are having dinner, the French waiter asks L, “How’s your steak, Sir?”
Without making any eye contact he continues to slice that piece of meat on his plate and then replies, “I can’t believe I flew 10,000 miles for this shit!”
Everyone bursts out laughing, leaving the French waiter panicking and rushing back to the kitchen.
Yeah, that steak is a bit overcooked and it does seem like sharper cutlery is needed in order to work on it. That line comes from Hollywood movie “Rush Hour” which is one of his favorite movies and L memorizes every line in the film. He might not be expressive but he certainly knows how to put his photographic memory to a great use.
“I’ve never been invited to anywhere overseas and I’m overwhelmed by his achievements. He’s visited more places on earth and received more recognitions than all of us combined,” says K.
I couldn’t agree more. L is definitely an overachiever! Somehow it’s ironic that many spend their whole lives, striving to reach a certain status of fame. And here he is, indifferent to fame and money but he’s able to draw and paint like a genius since he was three.
Life can be so unfair sometimes and works in a mysterious way!
