I was diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder- specifically Asperger’s Syndrome by a psychiatrist at UC-Davis medical center. The diagnosis was made earlier this year (2015).
My twin brother, Dean, did not exhibit signs of Autism Spectrum Disorder. He was much more outgoing than me and was a first team basketball player. I seldom talked, made few friends of my own and was happiest by myself. I remember taking an IQ test because my parents were concerned. I believe they self diagnosed my quietness as shyness.
I still remember my basketball coach (when I still played) asking me in the locker room after a practice why I never looked at anyone. I did not know the answer to his question.
I was not coordinated and gave competitive basketball a good try, but finally quit the team because I seldom played in games.
Dean and I looked alike and we were teased occasionally—called “twin” instead of our names when people wanted one of us to come over and talk.
I was raised on a farm and our chores included feeding the livestock and horses daily. I had orphan lambs that I liked to feed and raise—they often became my inseparable friends. I was much more comfortable around my animal friends than my human ones.
My parents did not understand my psyche. They forced me to go to Methodist youth fellowship and other social events—when I really wanted to stay home.
I was thirteen and in 4-H. I was exhibiting my lamb at the local county fair when I heard sounds coming from under the grandstand. I was intrigued and investigated and spent much time at the amateur radio station I found there. I was intrigued by the morse code. Morse is loads of fun, challenging, non threatening to me and wholesome. It is a fun way to make friends without having to leave one’s home or look at the new friend. It is stress diverting and I became a morse code expert.
I became a veterinarian. This career suited my personality. It was fun and sad, very rewarding and satisfying but not financially a success.
One year ago, I attended (under duress) my wife’s family reunion. I found a recliner in the corner of the living room and tried to escape the situation. I closed my eyes and imagined being back home.
My mother in law came up to me and asked me why I did not talk and socialize with people. I did go to the patio and made an effort to talk, but became angry and shouted at everyone to hurry up and take the family photo, that I was going to walk the fifteen or so miles home. My wife came after me in the car and took me home. I was so stressed out and acted unpredictably. It was so embarrassing for me, my wife and children.
I assembled an amateur radio-morse code exhibit that I present at local events. At the last ScholarShare event at FairyTale Town in Sacramento, a teenager came up to the display. He was fascinated by the morse code demonstration I was giving. He had difficulty talking because he stuttered. He had finally found something that was impressive to see, fun to do and something he could do that his friends could not do. He came to my exhibit four times that day.
I contacted a speech therapist in Granite Bay, telling her about the teen with the speech issue. She referred me to the fine people at A Touch of Understanding. A dialogue was started and I told staff at ATOU about my Autism Spectrum Disorder issue. I have been telling my life story with ATOU workshops ever since. For some reason ( I think that my prayers to God help me) I am usually not nervous to talk about my life. It amazes me and my family.
At this time, I show the ATOU morse code poster and explain that morse was first thought about by Samuel morse in 1832 while on a seagoing voyage.
I show the three morse instruments and explain that morse was used by spies behind enemy lines in the world wars to seek rescue. It was used extensively by Abraham Lincoln to message his Union Army generals in the civil war. President Lincoln enjoyed spending hours daily in the telegraph office, he would sometimes stay overnight there- it was relaxing to him.
Special Forces officers (SAS) learn morse code- they can signal for help by using sound (whistling) or light (flashlights).
The periscopes in modern submarines have a light that can be used to send morse code if needed.
The Central Intelligence Agency trains modern spies. On the grounds of the CIA are granite and copper sculptures- part of the “Kryptos” sculpture. There are morse code inscriptions on these granite sculptures. The Kryptos sculpture has never been fully decoded, with final inscriptions eluding modern government cryptographers and other code breakers.
My speech ending is usually amazing to young listeners. I send a morse message at high speed ( around thirty words per minute) and ask the listeners if they can guess what I said. I then tell them that the morse code message read— “Kindness matters—-choose to be kind”. I explain that this message will be one of the most important advice given to them.
My twin brother, Dean, did not exhibit signs of Autism Spectrum Disorder. He was much more outgoing than me and was a first team basketball player. I seldom talked, made few friends of my own and was happiest by myself. I remember taking an IQ test because my parents were concerned. I believe they self diagnosed my quietness as shyness.
I still remember my basketball coach (when I still played) asking me in the locker room after a practice why I never looked at anyone. I did not know the answer to his question.
I was not coordinated and gave competitive basketball a good try, but finally quit the team because I seldom played in games.
Dean and I looked alike and we were teased occasionally—called “twin” instead of our names when people wanted one of us to come over and talk.
I was raised on a farm and our chores included feeding the livestock and horses daily. I had orphan lambs that I liked to feed and raise—they often became my inseparable friends. I was much more comfortable around my animal friends than my human ones.
My parents did not understand my psyche. They forced me to go to Methodist youth fellowship and other social events—when I really wanted to stay home.
I was thirteen and in 4-H. I was exhibiting my lamb at the local county fair when I heard sounds coming from under the grandstand. I was intrigued and investigated and spent much time at the amateur radio station I found there. I was intrigued by the morse code. Morse is loads of fun, challenging, non threatening to me and wholesome. It is a fun way to make friends without having to leave one’s home or look at the new friend. It is stress diverting and I became a morse code expert.
I became a veterinarian. This career suited my personality. It was fun and sad, very rewarding and satisfying but not financially a success.
One year ago, I attended (under duress) my wife’s family reunion. I found a recliner in the corner of the living room and tried to escape the situation. I closed my eyes and imagined being back home.
My mother in law came up to me and asked me why I did not talk and socialize with people. I did go to the patio and made an effort to talk, but became angry and shouted at everyone to hurry up and take the family photo, that I was going to walk the fifteen or so miles home. My wife came after me in the car and took me home. I was so stressed out and acted unpredictably. It was so embarrassing for me, my wife and children.
I assembled an amateur radio-morse code exhibit that I present at local events. At the last ScholarShare event at FairyTale Town in Sacramento, a teenager came up to the display. He was fascinated by the morse code demonstration I was giving. He had difficulty talking because he stuttered. He had finally found something that was impressive to see, fun to do and something he could do that his friends could not do. He came to my exhibit four times that day.
I contacted a speech therapist in Granite Bay, telling her about the teen with the speech issue. She referred me to the fine people at A Touch of Understanding. A dialogue was started and I told staff at ATOU about my Autism Spectrum Disorder issue. I have been telling my life story with ATOU workshops ever since. For some reason ( I think that my prayers to God help me) I am usually not nervous to talk about my life. It amazes me and my family.
At this time, I show the ATOU morse code poster and explain that morse was first thought about by Samuel morse in 1832 while on a seagoing voyage.
I show the three morse instruments and explain that morse was used by spies behind enemy lines in the world wars to seek rescue. It was used extensively by Abraham Lincoln to message his Union Army generals in the civil war. President Lincoln enjoyed spending hours daily in the telegraph office, he would sometimes stay overnight there- it was relaxing to him.
Special Forces officers (SAS) learn morse code- they can signal for help by using sound (whistling) or light (flashlights).
The periscopes in modern submarines have a light that can be used to send morse code if needed.
The Central Intelligence Agency trains modern spies. On the grounds of the CIA are granite and copper sculptures- part of the “Kryptos” sculpture. There are morse code inscriptions on these granite sculptures. The Kryptos sculpture has never been fully decoded, with final inscriptions eluding modern government cryptographers and other code breakers.
My speech ending is usually amazing to young listeners. I send a morse message at high speed ( around thirty words per minute) and ask the listeners if they can guess what I said. I then tell them that the morse code message read— “Kindness matters—-choose to be kind”. I explain that this message will be one of the most important advice given to them.
