Autism in the Trenches

Art, ArtPrize2021, Welcome To Autismland: Population YOU!, Writing, , , , , , 
AUTISM IN THE TRENCHES
BY KIRI L. K. SALAZAR

There is a foe, I cannot see
Wired with hair-trigger senses.
Conflict borne in infancy
     Camouflaged in normalcy
My heart is sore, my soul fatigued
Fighting Autism in the trenches.

My Janus child walks a line between his world and mine
I cannot cross his no-man’s land, the battle never ceases.
Nor can he find his way to me
Along a treacherous path 
Where every wrong step may carve him to pieces.

Some days, the screaming never seems to end.
Severed nerves send SOSes.
Signals get crossed, get lost in transmission
It might be joy, but why take chances?

The silence is worse.
Laying traps of false expectation.
A minefield of hope and regret
With a route that daily changes.

I have waged war against tics and compulsions
Aiming for inclusion.
Making I.E.Ps into I.E.D.s
Is not an error in transcription
But a battle plan with no excuses.

I am tired of this war.
I am raw.  I am defeated.
I have forgotten, 
Who am I really fighting for?
If the one I love is the one who is bleeding?
I cannot fight it any more.

In the Land of Normal, Autism is the enemy.
There are no victors and no survivors.
Unless I surrender completely to the pain of what is
and make peace with what will never be.

Instead of making war on his differences,
I will raise the white flag
And embrace those moments of calm.
For, if all I know is war, how can I ever come home?

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The artwork entitled Autism in the Trenches which is based on the above poem was installed for public consumption at ArtPrize 2021. It has now come home and awaits installation on the only wall big enough to support it.

Search for Lot 90-70454

For more details go to this link: https://www.artprize.org/70454

Attention Whore Seeks Audience…

Family, Family Ties, From My Brain to Yours, Self-flagellation, , ,

Whenever we hold up the critical mirror of consciousness to do a self-check, I sometimes wish it came with a warning sticker to the effect: “The idiot in mirror might be a larger ass than they appear.“

The following post is a painful acknowledgment that I am not as funny as I think I am, and maybe I should seek professional help. As painful as the following confession is to read, I promise you, it was a thousand times harder to write and admit to.

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Aunt Peg’s Layered Jello Salad…maybe

Family, From My Brain to Yours, Palate Pleasures, ,

Long before such Food Network shows like Cutthroat Kitchen and Chopped introduced questionable cuisine–there were traditional homemade dishes with mystery ingredients that only got passed down in the family to the daughters who hoarded the recipes on 3 x 5 cards tucked away in a tin recipe box. Classics such as hotdog surprise or macaroni salad were hauled out for holiday parties–sometimes against the will of attending family members–and no holiday would be complete without these culinary treats at the table. I am about to share with you one such recipe.

Be warned, this one may become your very own secret surprise side dish delight!

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An Oldie But a Goodie…

Crisis DuJour, Friends, Rambling Rose, Travel Broadens the Mind, , , ,

I am driving back home Sunday, through a raging storm when the call comes over the radio:

“Beep Beep Beep…please be aware that a tornado watch is in effect for West Michigan counties from now until 8:00pm tonight.”

I don’t know if you’ve ever seen a tornado–I’ve been lucky not to–but the minute you know it is a possibility, you start seeing potential tornados everywhere you look. They become tornados of the mind. This is one of those imaginary journeys…

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Dental Damns…

Family, Family Ties, Parenting Heart Palpitations, Universal Coverage - In a Bad Way, ,

We are past the first hurtle. My son has survived having his wisdom teeth extracted and now has to just get through the next five days on a restricted diet of soft foods. Currently he is having ice cream for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

It may have been exhausting, but at least the hardest part is over. Now to survive the days with the benefits of top-notch pain killers. (Norco is the way to go. Sadly, only the kid is receiving them.) But, I am reaping the benefits of a narcotically stunned teenager filled to the gills with bowls of Super Scoop ice cream with a chocolate sauce chaser.

The even better news is that the two family members who have been teetering on the brink of existence in separate hospitals have now recovered enough to be discharged. Huzzah! Let everyone rejoice the homecomings!

And to anyone who was hoping the title of this piece was somehow a salacious intro to a naughty confession, my apologies. I’m sorry to disappoint your prurient desires.

PLENTY O’ GISH…

From My Brain to Yours

WELCOME TO THE NEWEST ONLINE DATING SITE–FOR SOLO CUPS EVERYWHERE!THERE’S NO NEED TO BE SHY ABOUT FINDING THE RIGHT SOLO CUP ANY MORE.

IF YOU LIKE YOUR MEN SUAVE AND SOPHISTICATED, HAVE WE GOT THE CUP FOR YOU!

YOU’RE A MATCH!

EAT YOUR HEART OUT ALL YOU SOLO LADIES!

BARRY MANSOLO

HE IS LOOKING FOR SOMEONE TO STRIKE THE RIGHT NOTE FOR A NIGHT ON THE TOWN!

HE’S IN YOUR STAR CHARTS, LADIES! LOOK FOR HIM UNDER THE SIGN OF CUPRICORN!

“People say you can see right through me, but it’s what’s on the inside that counts. “

“PLEASE, NO DIXIE CHICKS! I WANT A REAL GREAT GAL TO GO SOLO WITH ME!”

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

POLLY STYRENE NEEDS A MAN WHO WHO KNOWS HOW TO HANDLE A FULL CUP!

POLLY IS PURPLE IN ALL THE RIGHT PLACES!

SHE’S A REAL PARTY GIRL.

NOT INTERESTED IN DATING ‘PLASTIC’ MEN.

BUT SHE MELTS JUST RIGHT WHEN YOU HOLD HER TIGHT!

NO PHTHALATES, PLEASE!

BPA – OKAY

“COME RECYCLE WITH ME, THE BEST IS YET TO BE!”

RECYCLING SIGN: ” PET – 6″

SEEKS SAME!

LET’S GET RECYCLED TOGETHER!

#GISH ITEM #4 – DATING PROFILE FOR RED SOLO CUP!

Doing a Thing…

Art, Challenge Accepted, Crisis DuJour, Heartbreak, Parenting Heart Palpitations, Terrifying Transitions, Welcome To Autismland: Population YOU!

In case anyone wonders, I am doing a THING.

I can neither describe it nor defend it, but I’m definitely doing it because I plunked down a $25 no-refund application fee and I will spend an insane amount of money before I admit I am ill-qualified to do the THING.

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