This is Jingle’s class picture. All of these dogs (and their kids) will be training with us starting next week. I don’t know if you can view it if you aren’t on Facebook but it is so cute! It’s like they are all lined up for a kindergarten yearbook. We think our Jingle has a very distinctive look.
Riley loved the letter. She sucked in her breath, and said, “Jingle!” She knew exactly which dog it was, even without seeing the photo. She tried to suppress her arms which were going wild with her ”happy” tic. When she does this, she clasps her hands together in front like the little girls when they sing in The Sound of Music. She tries to control it so it won’t be as obvious.
“She’s so cute,” she said, staring at the picture.
This lasted for about 30 seconds and then she went back to what she was doing, seemingly unfazed.
“Riley! You were wishing for Jingle. Remember when you saw her picture when she was a puppy? You said you wanted her. ”
“Maybe,” she said.
“Remember you said if you had to pick, you’d pick Jingle?”
C’mon kid. I want a reaction!
“Maybe.”
I crinkled my eyebrows at Todd, am I crazy?
He laughed and shook his head. He remembered. He was there when she said she wanted Jingle. He heard it more than once.
Perhaps she’s feeling too exposed to admit it.
Maybe she’s just tired from Seth’s party.
Maybe she really doesn’t remember(fat chance).
And that’s the thing with autism. Riley could no sooner morph herself into a reaction for my sake than she could be mean to someone. She just is who she is.
A few hours later, she came back to Jingle’s picture. She cocked her head to the side, smiled and pressed her hands together.
It was enough.
She’s going to love Jingle. I bet she’s getting a little excited and nervous, with Oct. 12 right around the corner.
Wishing you a wonderful, wonderful trip.
love.
Awww. My heart is melting! So happy for you guys. Can’t wait for the trip to get her. I’m sure there will be astonishing stories to come…
I can’t wait to read the whole thing, I know it’s going to be completely life changing for all of you, and all of us, too!
She’s excited. She may not have given you “The Big Reaction” you were looking for, but she’s excited.
When we brought our 2 kitty boys home to Miss S last summer, I was thinking she’d be screaming with Joy. Dad had the video cam ready to catch her reaction when I pulled up with them in the car. She was so shocked she went mute, I tell ya. Completely nonchalant exterior, like, oh, kittens, ok. So, what’s for snack. Later I come to find out that it was just SO BIG she didn’t know how to react, so she just kept it in ’til she could figure out how to process it.
She’s thrilled. Seriously, you’ll hear about it all later. Or maybe not, but the love between them will be obvious and unmistakable. Jingle is perfect!
This is so exciting for all of you! (Might have to join FB just to see the class photo!)
I’m here already. SO exciting!
fluffy’s the same way. i’m quite sure it feels different (bigger) inside that it looks from the outside.