Boston (part two)
Alysia overwhelmed by choice at Wagamama
Following on from part one.
We took a cab into the city and wandered around Quincy Market. We wandered around exploring, then I saw a little shop that sold Christmas tree ornaments. Now, it might seem a little strange to take Alysia (who is Jewish) to such a place in May, but I had my reasons. A while ago I wrote a post about collecting ornaments on my travels, and how our tree now represented the alternative journey are family is taking. So here I was, on a trip to a new place, and needed to commemorate it. If it weren’t for autism, I wouldn’t have been there. No matter where in the world we are, every Christmas I’m going to look at my Red Sox ornament on my tree and I’ll remember my amazing day.
It took a while for us some time to find a place for lunch. The two of us are so used to dealing with our families’ dietary requirements, and sensory issues, we were overwhelmed by possibility. So used to accommodating the needs of everybody else that we simply couldn’t decide for ourselves. Eventually we settled for Wagamama, and I might have to wait some time for my husband to forgive me for doing that without him (sorry honey).
Jedi Warriors and a Stormtrooper
After we strolled around some more, when I spied a Stormtrooper. We simply had to get our photo taken with him. Not long afterwards, it rained heavily, so we sought refuge indoors with hot chocolate and cake: the fuel of spectrummy mummies, and mommies. The rain hampered our sight-seeing efforts, but by the time it cleared up it was time to head over to meet The Squashed Mom, our other Hopeful Parent in Boston that day.
Try Defying Gravity with The Squashed Mom
Like my other friend, Varda was just the same as in her blog, and we all settled down for a much too brief chat over a bottle of wine. It was so great to be in the company of these ladies who just understand, without explanation.
The same Time that had made me impatient for the day was my enemy once again. It was time to head to the airport. It was time to say goodbye, not knowing when or if I’d see them again. The end of a day I’ll never forget.
A flight, bus, metro journey and taxi cab ride later, and I finally arrived home. I smiled as I saw our blue porch light shining to welcome me home, knowing that the same blue light was shining at my friend’s house. For my friends, and all those who light up the path so we know we never walk it alone: thank you, and keep shining on.
Thank you to all the Spectrummy Daddies who let us fly.
What a great trip!! So nice that you got to meet up with these great friends of yours… A much needed recharge for all of you!! Great pictures, too!
joeysmommy
May 10, 2011 at 8:55 am
Thank you!
Spectrummy Mummy
May 10, 2011 at 12:18 pm
good Lord – I was okay until then end when you mentioned our blue lights…I had a wonderful visit that felt way too short in so many ways. thank you for taking this day with me, and for being a friend for life.
I could use some more cake right about now.
akbutler
May 10, 2011 at 9:36 am
Yep, me too- even if we had to sit on the floor to eat it. One day, there’ll be more cake.
Spectrummy Mummy
May 10, 2011 at 12:19 pm
This made me smile…and sniffle a few tears. I love that you thanked the Spectrummy Daddies who let us fly…both literally and metaphorically. xo
Niksmom
May 10, 2011 at 9:52 am
Spectrummy Mummy
May 10, 2011 at 12:19 pm
I had the same experience last year when I went to meet my Autism United friends. It is such a huge mix of anticipation and trepidation. So much freedom can be bittersweet, too.
DQ
May 10, 2011 at 7:46 pm
[...] (to read Spectrummy Mummy’s account of our visit together, click here for part one and here for part two) [...]
I’ll Be There For You « Try Defying Gravity
May 11, 2011 at 1:25 pm
hooray! so glad for your time together and your time away. i’ve also been blessed to spend a some time with alysia. thank God for deep, precious friendships.
=)
rhemashope
May 12, 2011 at 8:27 pm
btw, i live in boston. i know you’re leaving the country and all that but if you ever make it up this way again, i wanna see you!
rhemashope
May 12, 2011 at 8:28 pm
It might be a long time, but I promise if I’m ever in Boston again I’ll look you up. Would love to meet you too!
Spectrummy Mummy
May 13, 2011 at 4:45 pm
I thought I had already commented on this!? Ooops!
I am so thrilled that you got to meet each other….it sounds like really awesome well-deserved day.
Fi (Wonderfully Wired Mum)
May 16, 2011 at 3:48 am
[...] the amazing SNSS collection. I was lucky enough to meet The Squashed Mom during my recent trip to Boston, and she speaks exactly as she writes, which is an incredible gift. She writes from the [...]
Sibling Saplings (at The Squashed Bologna) « Spectrummy Mummy
May 21, 2011 at 10:12 am
[...] lucky enough to have met some incredible women over these past few years. Some of them I’ve met through my son’s school, some [...]
Bridge Over Troubled Water « Try Defying Gravity
September 3, 2011 at 8:05 am
[...] I’d collected each one. I didn’t need to write on my Red Sox ornament to remind me of my day Defying Gravity in Boston. The following day, we headed out to the craft market so that South Africa would be represented [...]
Safe House « Spectrummy Mummy
December 12, 2011 at 6:28 pm
[...] May I got to meet my friend Alysia from Try Defying Gravity in Boston. I also met Varda from The Squashed Bologna, and that month on her blog I discussed how my two [...]
That Was 2011 « Spectrummy Mummy
January 2, 2012 at 6:32 pm