I have always known that I was 'different'. I don't mean 'unique' or an

'individual' or anything prosaic or new-agey like that.

I have always known that, well, there was something 'wrong' with

me, partly because people in authority kept asking me 'what was

wrong with' me. You get enough of that and you start to think that

either they are right or they are the ones who are wrong.

This leads to thoughts of loneliness and a world-wide conspiracy

against your 'rightness', which leads to a small messianic complex.

Since I've discovered the Aspergers aspect of my life, I have had

to reevaluate both mine and other people's assessments of almost

everything, from my behavior to their own.

I have had to relearn a lot of things. I have had also had to put up

with comments suggesting that since I don't see and can't see things

the way 'normal' people do, then I should just shut up and pretend to

play along, because if I can't see what they see, then I can't criticize

what 'they' think is right.

Horse pucky.

I saw some adults, Band Booster parents, last night who had set up

the food service for the Swim Party with great deliberation and

precision. With one tiny exception, the direction of the serving line,

they had it down cold. They did it right. I thought so and so did they.

So, once again, my point is made, that while I may be 'different',

I'm not stupid. And while they, the Band Booster parents, may be

'normal' ( I don't know them well enough to guess, yet), they are

not stupid, either.

Sometimes there is just a 'right' way to do things, based on experience,

perception, and planning. This often indicates years of mistakes or the

willingness to learn from other's mistakes...

or your own or other's stupidity.

Eliminate stupidity from the equation and you have learning experience.

Exalt the stupidity and all have is people learning to be stupid.

Uvula has just called me from her friend's house and told

me that she is bringing home a Brother copier/printer/scanner/fax

that someone from her old workplace gave to her friend because...

they lost the manual at the workplace and they couldn't figure out

how to get it to work...

and the woman who has it now doesn't have a computer...

eh.

So, we are getting it ffree. I told Uvula I would make no promises,

but I would try to see what I could do to access the necessary

information and/or the software, if it were missing.

She said,"Well, this thing is brand new, so how hard could it be?

If you can't get it to work, I'll give it a try. This is thing is so valuable,

it's got to be worth the effort!"

Yeah. Right. This from a woman who can't be bothered to learn anything

about taking care of the things she's paid for.

I won't go so far as to say that she's stupid, but I will venture

that she's been exposed to the virus of cyclical stupidity. In fact,

I have proof and scars from that.

So, I, in my ignorance, will do my best to see if I can make the

gadget work. From what little I know about the staff at the place

that couldn't make it work, they probably knew what they were doing

and Uvula is probably proudly dragging home a boat anchor.

Well, let her have her moment of joy. At least it's cheap.