November 3, 2016 DON'T LET ME BE MISUNDERSTOOD

Last weekend while I was out running, I came across a dead cat pushed to the side of the road. Someone's pet. I could barely look at it--the sight of a dead animal AND blood is very upsetting to me. I've been thinking about that cat and wondering if its owners are looking for it. It is hard to lose a pet, especially, that way. It reminded me of our cat, Pongo. He was the BEST cat ever--weighing in at about 20 pounds--he had personality PLUS and  was a beloved member of our family--even the dogs accepted him over time.  One night, out of the blue, he didn't come home. Next thing we knew, a pack of coyotes was living in the woods behind our house, and we had to accept the fact that our beautiful, robust, white and black SUPER friendly cat was most likely killed. Sadly, Pongo didn't have a chance against wild animals. Anyways, we have fond memories of that giant ball of fur, and over the years he has become sort of a legend around our dinner table.

 This brings to mind a book from 2003 whose premise is a dead dog and the mystery that surrounds it in Mark Haddon's International bestseller The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time. This story, set in England, is told through the eyes of Christopher Boone, a fifteen year old autistic boy. Christopher lives in a world he doesn't understand. He can relate to animals well, but has no understanding of  human emotion.  He loves math, knows every prime number and country, but hates to be touched and freaks out whenever he sees the color yellow. One night, he discovers that his neighbor's poodle, Wellington, has been killed. Shortly thereafter,  the neighbor  discovers Christopher in his yard with the dead dog and has him arrested as a suspect in the dog's death. Upon his release, Christopher decides ( against his father's wishes)  that he is going to find out who murdered Wellington. This story is not really about the dog, it is about living with autism. Haddon is masterful at showing the reader how difficult it is for an autistic person to navigate in a world that is totally foreign--where one is overwhelmed by sensation, is literal minded and socially detached. Everyone should be required to read this book--it is an easy read at about 224 pages-- a 4 mile run--that will have a huge impact on you and perhaps change the way you think of autism.