Mélange

Screaming, tapping, singing, laughing: this is what you hear coming from the brown house located down the road, a house with alarms on doors, a fence around the pool, and bars along the stairs. And this brown house, with all of its commotion, is my home, my family, and my world. I live in New Orleans, the city of food, tourists, and Mardi Gras; while the New Orleanians are partying down the street, I stay home – home with my family, barbeque, and autism.

ASD, autism spectrum disorder, is part of my every day. I am the second oldest in a family of six children. Bestowed upon me are responsibilities: doing laundry, making dinner, and watching my little brother, the youngest, who was diagnosed with autism at the age of two. He is my little Jere: cute, kind, and loving. From his birth, Jeremiah never wanted to be touched or held. It was not until the age of six that Jeremiah opened his arms and allowed me to hug him and play with him. At that point in time, I did my very best to make sure that he knew all of the basic things a child should know: tying his shoes, brushing his teeth, picking up his toys, and brushing his hair. I stepped up from being just a sister to being a second mom. It is not that I wanted to become a mom, but I needed to become a “mom figure” to ensure that my brother would be able to grow up and live without the assistance of a sitter.

I began by teaching Jeremiah the alphabet. A, B, C…then Jeremiah snatched his writing pad from me and completed the next twenty-three. I was amazed! He must have absorbed all of the information from Sesame Street. I thought our lesson was through, but then I heard Jeremiah humming: he was singing the alphabet backwards! I was in awe; Jeremiah was able to process the alphabet in a way that many people cannot.

The next day I decided to teach Jeremiah how to plant flowers; this is when I realized that I was no longer the teacher. I was now the student, learning new things every day. Jeremiah embodies the saying, “Don’t judge a book by its cover.” When a person is labeled with a disorder it does not mean that they are unintelligent; in fact, Jeremiah is smarter than anyone would ever imagine. Jeremiah’s brain is moving at the speed of light: we just need to take the time to realize he is special.

As a soon-to-be college student, I know I have an open mind and heart. I enjoy being a student, a student of poetry, a student of children, a student of my elders, and a student of life. As the years continue I will gather knowledge that will further my appreciation of everyone and everything. My eyes and ears are open, and they are ready to take in anything.

If Tomorrow was my last day, I’d say goodbye to my mistake from yesterday leave all bad memories in the past, cherish every second like it was my last, I’d spend all my money in a day, go to the zoo and play and play, like I was 5 again with no worries or ties to mend. I’d eat a Tchoupitoulas, stuff my face till I was fat and roll over like a fluffy lazy cat. Then I’d jump up and run a marathon, ride a bull, and laugh the whole daylong. I’d go to a party and sing my heart out to every song, dance until my feet went numb then run on over to another one and keep partying on. Then I’d skip school, steal a mule, and break all the rules. I’d hire a private jet fly all over, see the world and never look back. I would react on any impulse do what my heart, stomach or head desired. I would set no limits, for tomorrow I would die. I’d bungee jump off a bridge, sky dive from a plane, get a tattoo of something plain. I’d visit a hospital and the elderly too, not a second to waste going to the bathroom for life would end too soon. I’d deliver a baby, save a life, have a wedding, and end someone’s strife. I’d give everything I have had away including my clothes and bones and brains and ears to someone with the chance of living a few more years. I’d not weep nor cry but cherish till the day I die. Yet if in the end it was all a lie and I wasn’t going to die, I would not regret the day spent for that’s how everyday should be meant.