Aut and Nert go shopping

Aut and Nert went shopping at a thrift store together, for the first time this week.

It was noticed that there were differences in how the Autistic and the Neurotypical shop.

Aut has a pre-planned route and a mental list that she follows rather strictly.

Nert roams counterclockwise, skips some aisles but might backtrack and go to the ones she missed (maybe, maybe not);  touches everything and some items she picks up to keep but changes her mind and sets the item back in the nearest open spot (not in its correct aisle or place); hums and sings to herself and frequently talks to strangers.

Aut doesn't touch things unless she has a serious intent of possibly purchasing as she fears germs, chemicals, poisonous substances, as well as cooties and ickies. Once an item passes from her hands to her cart, she is committed to buying whether positive or negative for better or for worse. 

Aut is very quiet. She does not hum or sing to herself but often has to remind herself to not talk out loud as she is thinking and remembering as she shops.

Aut rarely talks to the strangers unless they start it first.

Aut and Nert enjoyed shopping together and will do it again very soon.

Being very young. Family dinner.

I have very early memories at time. This week I vividly recalled being young enough to be seated in a highchair at the dining room table, within the yellow kitchen of Lincoln Nebraska. 

My older brother, mom and dad were there. We encircled the small table nestled in the kitchen.

I watched. The others, well mom and dad anyway, attacked their food vigorously with shiny, noisey, rapidly moving silverware. It was a two-fisted, double-armed massacre. 

The noise that knives and forks made on dinner plates was loud, cutting, startling and overwhelming. It was like the big people were mad at the food. This did not look like a pleasant encounter. Whatever was on the plates were the losers. Silverware brandished, the winners.

It's odd noting what undiagnosed Autistic me thought and felt way back then.

Dinners were loud and noisy. I didn't like to watch or hear other people attacking their food.