Gardenpunk: Nothing Less

When you have Aspergers or any form of autism for that matter, you know how hard it can be to form a genuine bond with anyone.  As I said to my dad recently, a real friend is hard to find for people like us.

I’ve known my friend Katie (aka @Gardenpunk) since we were six years old, but it wasn’t until we were much older that we became close.  I have to admit that I was afraid of her as a child.  She most definitely kept people on their toes.  When I thought I’d try out a different, non-geek persona, she mocked me into oblivion.  Even at that age I understood that she was telling me to be true to myself.

Katie understands me, not because we grew up together, but because she just gets how I feel about the world.  She inspires me constantly because she simply refuses to fear life or others’ opinions.  Several of my Twitter friends have gotten to know her and agree that she is just 100% awesomeness.

When I talk to her, I don’t have to worry about being autistic, nor do I ever feel like a weirdo.  I feel alive.  And by the way, she’s actually taken the time to learn about autism so she can understand what this is all about.  Although you know, I think she understands me without looking anything up.

So why am I writing about her now?  A couple days ago, Katie suddenly developed bacterial meningitis and septic shock.  I must confess that this is consuming for me because I just can’t bear to lose one of the few people in the world whom I can genuinely connect with.

There’s been an incredible outpouring of support for her online, and it’s encouraging to see that after many ups and downs, she has stuck it out and things might be looking up.  Katie is such a spitfire, and I just know in my heart that her body is fighting with the same passion that she puts into everything that she does in life. #FightKatie!!

(Katie, I stole a photo.  Get better and come after me, why don’t you?)

(photos: kswanberg)