Born on a Blue Day

A while ago, my mom and dad read this book to me.  I don’t remember most of it but I do remember the feeling that I had while they read it.  I felt like running and shouting because a boy and a book became real to me.  I understood a lot about what he was saying about how colors helped him understand the world around him better.  My own experience has been different.  I don’t see colors but after reading the book, I realized that numbers and letters do the same thing for me.  ABC magnets became like a way for me to make a little more sense of my world.  A is the letter that I use to be calm.  B helps me be brave.  C helps me be courageous. D is very dull.  E is exciting. F is my favorite. G is great. H is helpful. I is my ingenuity. J is my jealous letter. K is for kindness. L is for loyalty.  M is for mom. N is for nature. O is obedience. P is for peace and Q is for quiet. R is for reading. S is for surety. T is for truth. U is for understanding. V is for virtue. W is for wanting. X is for exaltation. Y is for yearning. Z is for zany.  I am always thinking about letters.  It is how I can navigate my world.  I find the letter that makes sense in a situation and think about how that letter makes me feel and then I am better able to deal with my environment.  The numbers do similar things for me but they are not as descriptive so I prefer letters.  Thanks for listening to my crazy brain.  Thanks for letting me explain my obsession.  My real obsession is understanding how my own brain works and why letters mean so much to me.  I hope to figure it out someday. Until then, have a P and Q day.

 

Aaron. In every brain, there is a pattern.  I am thankful for what I can do with mine and hope that it will keep letting me do new things.  Bye now.  Ciao. Aloha. Hasta la vista. Bon voyage. Arrivederci. So long, people.

About author

Aaron Jepson

I am a 21-year old male who was diagnosed with autism at age 3. I am only partially-verbal and have a very difficult time expressing my thoughts by mouth but I am able to type on an I-Pad. My goal in life is to help other people with disabilities, and to let the rest of the world know that most people with autism are intelligent and capable and can make a great contribution to this world. I am funny, athletic, and most of all, handsome. And I am a fast runner, a cool skier, and a sweet mountain biker.

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Comments(6)

  1. REPLY

    Aunt Jeanette Jepson says

    I just love keeping up with these posts, Bryan, Aaron, and Austin. I treasure each one. Thank You for being you.
    Aunt Jeanette

    • REPLY

      Bryan Jepson says

      Thanks, Aunt Jeanette. I’m so glad that you are reading.

  2. REPLY

    Marie Wood says

    Dear Aaron,
    I have read and reread your stories. I have loved them so much. It is a miracle that you can write so well and express yourself. I bet you feel like it is freeing you. I know grandpa would be so proud of you. He writes very well too when he was here with us. Sometimes, I just write him a letter knowing that I won’t hear from him. Keep writing. It is such a wonderful gift you have uncovered. Love, Grandma Wood

  3. REPLY

    Melanie Walthall says

    Aaron, my heart is just exploding with happiness reading your blog. Thank you for explaining what letters and numbers mean to you. I remember wondering what you were thinking about so many years ago when you were little and would play and play with the magnets on the fridge. Your insights are so valuable, and I hope that everyone in world will be able to read your very well written blog and understand how truly amazing you are.

    Love, Sister Walthall

  4. REPLY

    Jennifer Hunt says

    Aaron. I absolutely love your blog. Thank you so much for sharing your thoughts about letters and numbers. You express yourself well and are such a good writer. I look forward to reading often.
    I miss you, but am happy you are doing so well in Colorado. I think of you often. I am still giving lessons to the primary children in our stake about children with differences. I have shared the emails you and Austin sent me as well as the amazing talk you gave in your new ward. Thank you for helping me to teach the primary’s about children with differences and how they would like to be treated at church. You inspire me.
    I love you. Sister Hunt

  5. REPLY

    Don C Jepson says

    Dear Aaron, and all who read this!
    Can you even begin to comprehend how amazed and thrilled I am to read the thoughts that you so beautifully express as you communicate now after all these years. Grandpa has a firm belief that as you continue writing your thoughts that you will eventually, and maybe soon, be able to speak them just as clearly. I hope that you will practice reading your own blogs out loud so you can hear yourself speaking. I am so proud of you and your dad for posting this blog which I know will be an inspiration and a blessing to many people. I love you and know what a special spirit you have.
    Elder Don Jepson, (Grandpa)

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