When Martha first met me, I was anxious and jumpy. I was always tapping my foot, rocking, or exhibiting some other behavioral aberration. Of course, now we know that's just normal Aspergian behavior, but back then other people thought it was weird, so of course I did, too. One day, for some reason, she decided to try petting my arm, and I immediately stopped rocking and fidgeting. The result was so dramatic, she never stopped. It didn't take long for me to realize the calming effect, too. I like being petted and scratched. "Can you pet me?" I say when I sit next to her.

Building up a weakness just makes you less disabled. Building a strength can take you to the top of the world.

I am sure antidepressants, drugs, and liquor have their place. But so far, that place is in others, not me.

And my experience in the music scene had shown me that there were places for places in the world where misfits were welcome.

Unlike some older brothers, I never set him on fire, or cut off an arm or leg, or drowned him in the tub.

I don't really understsand why it's considered normal to stare at someone's eyeballs

And now I know it is perfectly natural for me not to look at someone when I talk. Those of us with Asperger's are just not comfortable doing it. In fact, I don'treally understand why it's considered normal to stare at someone's eyeballs.