I have struggled a bit with this blog adventure and what you all would want to read about Andy. I have also struggled with having the energy to write it as he keeps me kind of busy during the day and I just have not been able to get my writing energy motivated at night. I have pondered on this for months and finally came up with a plan, I will write when I take him out to watch trucks! Several times a week (yes, several) I take him to watch trucks. We have found a variety of places, most involving food, that have an acceptable amount of passing semi traffic to keep Andy engaged. Because my passion just is not as strong and pure as his is I can concentrate on the writing task at hand while he is in his happy place. Truth be told I don’t know that I have any passion for big rigs (ooops, did I really say that???) however, I have great appreciation and gratefulness for the acceptance and thoughtfulness the trucking community has bestowed on Andy and treasure the relationships we have created.
That being said, this story is not so much about the trucking community as it is about acceptance and relationships and it does involve his passion for semis. Today, my first attempt to implement my writing plan, we are at local McDonalds that can be counted on for a consistant supply of the working rigs to satisfy him and also reminds me of another such McDonalds excursion.
Andy has a couple of aides who take him out in the community to do a variety of skill building activities and to create new relationships or connect with established friends in part to prevent the isolation many persons with disabilities suffer. These outings also provide him opportunity to interact with non- related friends as all of us enjoy and probably take for granted. The time with the aids is planned and the year prior to this event part of the routine for time with the aide I will call Mr D was eat lunch at McDonalds and watch trucks.
Watching semis with Andy is not a passive, quite activity! His lack of words does not diminish his enthusiasm or his vocal capacity to say the least. Nor does the fact that he is indoors matter to him. All that was accepted by the McDonalds staff and the courtesy cleaning lady enabled the behavior by saving the prime truck watching booth when she saw them walk in!
On the day I am reminded of, Andy and Mr D were seated in that prime booth, whiched happened to be a middle one during a busy lunch time. Andy was watching for trucks and Mr D, seated across, was watching Andy. As Andy let out whoop over a passing rig all Mr D saw was a hamburger from the next booth go flying up in the air then down on the floor as Andy’s joy startled the customer whose back was nearest to Andy. Thankfully all involved enjoyed the humor and McDonalds replaced the hamburger free of charge. I give credit to the staff who got to know Andy and his passion and just rolled with situation.
Now when Mr D takes Andy out to eat he forewarns staff and fellow customers of the potential of flying hamburgers!