When I kick the bucket, I'll know instantly that I've gone to the
wrong place if I hear the non-lilting falsetto strains of Pikachu assaulting me
as I cross the threshold. I can't tell you how much I loathe that little yellow
guy and his boy-controller, Ash. Not a Pokemon fan.
Pikachu, Charizard and all their annoying anime friends have been with son Fickle Fan (and therefore with me) now for over 12 years. It started innocently enough with the television show. I'm not sure how he discovered it, but it quickly became an obsession. Pre-Game Boy, when he was six years old, he actually flew into a desperate rage one afternoon in speech therapy because speech occurred at the same time his beloved Pokemon were battling on TV. We were not allowed to tape it. Watching it at 7 p.m. was just not the same as watching at 4 p.m. How clueless could we be??
Fortunately, we came to our senses and eventually gave in and got him a Game Boy and earplugs. That introduced him to the world of Pokemon Red, Pokemon Blue, Pokemon Gold, Pokemon Silver...and the rest of Pikachu's palette. And initially it meant new crises, when FF would be "stuck" on a level, unable to progress or win battles. (And speaking of battles, have you been treated to the exciting background "music" and sound effects of a Pokemon-to-Pokemon death match? Please. That composer needs to roast in Pokemon hell with me!) At one point I actually went online to an all experts site with my "How do I advance from Level 5?" question. Some wonderful guy actually answered and patiently explained how to go back and collect whatever gizmo FF needed to be able to defeat whatever opponent was blocking his progress.
Through the years we've learned that having a passion or obsession for something means carving out space, providing access, or finding solutions to obstacles. And of course, we've also learned that those same passions can be wonderful motivators and distractions and can provide hours of calm.
Some adults with autism have even built passions into careers. I remember a Chicago Tribune article about a man who loved trains and maps. After memorizing the entire bus and el system and all of its stops and connections, he was hired by the transit authority to advise people on how best to get from point A to point B. And I love this video from the Arc of Indiana's "Pathways to Employment" series on Drew, a young man who never gave up on his love for animals.
Sure, there are probably more destructive or more disgusting passions FF could've chosen to latch onto than Ash's anime army. I think Pokemon probably provides consistency combined with a "safe," mild challenge and a sense of self-satisfaction when he wins a battle or gets to a new level. I keep reminding myself of that whenever I think of the incredible amount of time wasted on button pushing his DS.
Unfortunately, I don't think Pikachu is going to turn out to be a pathway to a lucrative profession. FF has had other passions through the years that showed career or job-possibility promise--reptiles and dinosaurs, filmmaking, theater, cooking, sports facts and stats, and everything you've ever wanted to know about U.S. presidents. But they've all gone by the wayside. His room is full of stacks of books on the presidents, lighting and camera equipment, theater programs, and cookbooks. (He finally made dinosaurs extinct.)
The passion for Pokemon waned through the years but resurfaced again in high school. Ugh. Left to his own devices (which is all too often now that he only has one community college class and work has dwindled to four hours a week), FF will play Pokemon on his DS or old games on his Game Boy, search for Pokemon clips on YouTube, watch episodes on TV that he's figured out how to record with the DVR, or even research new Pokemon in a game guide he got for Christmas. (Okay, yes, I bought it; as much as I hate the little beasties, I can't deny him the thing that he loves.)
Anyone need a Pokemon expert? Anyone??
"Pikachu, I choose you!" Gag me.
Okay, for those of you who just need to be tortured, click on the links: "Ash Meets Pikachu" and, oh help me!, there's a soundtrack!
