#barbara christopher

A little present to myself in trying times. I've only read the first chapter so far and it's at least started off with a positive attitude. I haven't had much time lately for personal projects while reroofing my house without sacrificing personal care and sleep, so that's all the farther I think I'll get for a while. Granted I would be reading it when work takes me on the road if I had a far less precious copy that I would feel confident about taking it out of the house lol. But I keep it in the bookcase in the living room right next to where I like to sit 💚

I checked out this copy of Mixed Blessings from the library last week, and I opened it up to find something very special inside - it's autographed, by both William and Barbara Christopher!

I read the whole book in just over a week, which just...doesn't happen. Not for me. As I get older, my ADHD makes it harder and harder to concentrate on reading. I can listen to an audiobook in that span of time, easily. But a physical book? I don't remember the last time I read one that quickly. Having a dog has helped me manage my ADHD in other areas of my life; maybe it's filtered down to affect something like reading as well. Or maybe I felt a high level of engagement with the book because it was written by the guy who played my favorite character in my current hyperfixation show.

In any case, it was an excellent and insightful read. A lot of the language is outdated, but that's forgivable because a) it was written 35 years ago, and b) the Christophers actually update their use of terminology throughout the story as they recount their own journey in learning more about autism. Overall, Bill and Barbara seemed like two incredibly kind, gentle, compassionate people who were swimming against the tides of a system that was often none of those things. But they also had a positive impact on that very same system.

(barbara christopher writing)

aw, Alan