Asia-isms

Asia was about 12 y/o and in trouble about something when she said,
“ I wish it was tomorrow because then today would be yesterday.”
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At an IEP meeting one year:


Wally: What I think Asia is saying is………
Asia: No, Wally, I’m saying what I said.
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(Asia, limping into the living room) “My foot is napping.”
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We dropped Asia's classmate off, picked up Taco Bell and came home. All the way home we talked about how much she should run. The conversation went like this:

Asia: How many miles tonite mom?
Me: Well, that's up to you honey. How many do you want to run?
Asia: (silence)
Me: Do you want me to tell you how many to run?
Asia: Yes
Me: OK, 1 mile then.
Asia: What happened to 5 miles:
Me: Coach said for these next few weeks if you want to run 1 mile it's fine.
Asia: Did you talk to her? What did you say? What did she say?
Me: No, I didn't talk to her, I emailed her. And I just told you what she said honey.
Asia: Did you see it on the computer? I want to see it.
Me: Trust me Asia...........she said you can run 1 mile if you want. It's ok. She said you were in such good shape and you've run so many good miles that it will be fine.

So, we arrive home, Asia changes clothes and heads down to the treadmill. Running commences. I'm thinking it should stop about the time I'm done feeding the dog, cat, checking the mail, etc....8-10 minutes. 15 minutes pass and she's still running. I went downstairs to tell her she should stop so she can eat dinner and shower and still have time for popcorn (nightly treat). She's at 2+ miles. Asia: OK mom, but can I do a cool down. Me: OK honey. I came back upstairs and got ready to shower. Still running. I got out of the shower. Still running. I sat down to type this email and she came upstairs and proudly announced: 5 miles, Mom! Me: That's awesome, Asia! You ROCK!

Smiling, she warmed up her tacos.


Asia: How many miles tomorrow mom?
Me: ......sigh.......
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2/21/09
(from Coach Gina and the RF501 E-news) Asia - a true inspiration:


Asia is our autistic runner who runs with the AA group. Her Dad, Jerry, labels some of Asia's comments (which are usually pretty funny): Asia-isms.

He could write a book and this one would be great:


Saturday during the long run with her partner Katie, (Asia is training for her first marathon - Martian - and Katie who is going to Boston is helping her with her long runs), so towards the end of the long run, Asia started slowing down and falling behind. Katie led for and while and Asia would not catch up. So Katie went back to Asia and said: "Asia when I get in front of you, that means I want you to try and catch up to me." and Asia replied: "Yeh, well when I am frowning that means I'm mad!"
Asia will be running in the Martian Marathon, her first marathon. If you aren't running that day, please come out and cheer for her.
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Meghann sent Asia 4 dollar bills and some coupons for crackers from Whole Foods. Asia wrote her and said, “I don’t want the crackers, but thanks for the dollars.”
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Asia to Jerry: “ Dad, you have on a long sleeved shirt and shorts. Did you go outside like that? What did people say?”
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We were driving to Asia’s first marathon and she was talking to her grandparents on Jerry’s cell phone. The grandparents are both hard of hearing, and Asia had the speaker phone on so we could hear too. They talked for a bit and then things started to break down:

Wim: Well, it was nice talking to you. Have your dad call us after the race.
Asia: When is the reunion?
Wim: That’s fine honey, we love you too. Bye now.
Asia: Wait a minute, when is the reunion?
Wim: I know, it was good talking to you too. Thanks for calling.
Asia: Wait a minute!
Wim: We’ll talk to you tomorrow after the race. Run fast now!
Asia: Wait a minute! Can we continue this conversation here!
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Dear Meghann Conly


I'm Excided That You have a Baby Soon With Jeff and I'm about to Pray about Her.


So I'm Still Thinking about Her. I'll See You in Sometime in October or November I Hope.Take a Picture of the Baby and Send it in in The Mail Ok So We Can See it Soon. I Hope The baby is Not Crying When it Coming Out. Soon. We Hope The Baby Will Be Happy and Talk and Say Hi So We Will Like it Soon. We Hope You have The Food and Crib For The Baby and Toys and Something To Play With. So The Baby Will Have a Name and Interduce To Every Body. So We Can Remember So We Can See it at The Reunion. Maybe You Can Take The Baby To Work. Baby Will Grow Up Soon. To Be a Grown Up Person. Ok. Maybe Baby Will Have Dolls To Play With Soon.


My Mom Will Be Grandma and I'm a Aunt and Dad is Grandpa We Hope Baby Will Have Birthday Soon.


Love Asia Renning
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July 11, 2009

(email from Coach Gina)

Adair, thanks for being out there today.


Cliff told a funny story when he got back:

He was running with Asia when the thunder and lightning hit, He said that he was a bit nervous,
and when the big clash of thunder and lightning crashed, he said he kinda jumped to the side of the road and covered his head. Then he looked up to see Asia just continuing down the road without breaking her stride.


He laughed and said he felt like a 'wimp' at that point.
We all had a good laugh.
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One sloppy late winter/early spring Saturday, Asia was running with Brian along Broadway in Ann Arbor. A car drove by really fast and splashed them with icy slush.


Asia: Brian, is he a jackass?
Brian, struggling not to laugh, because Asia charges other people a quarter for cussin’: Uh, no, I don’t think so, just not very considerate.
Asia: No, he’s jackass.
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9.21.10


Jerry has a cold and has almost completely lost his voice. Asia to Jerry, “ Dad, if you’re not better tomorrow, tell mom to give you Tylenol, so you can use your voice for laughing and singing.”
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3.31.12

Asia: Let’s talk to Katie about Art Fair and Monroe Fair and getting together in May and……….
Me: Let’s talk NOW… Let’s enjoy the run tomorrow and MJC coming, and your birthday ….Let’s not get so far out there in planning, let’s enjoy NOW
Asia: So, are you going to enjoy taxes tomorrow, Mom?
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The 90’s


Asia likes certain movies and will watch them daily. One of her favorites growing up was Amazing Grace and Chuck. Sometime during that period Adair was fixing ground chuck [hamburger] Asia read it and in a very concerned voice said” GROUND CHUCK? CHUCK WHO?”
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2006


Don’t say jackass Aunt Sam, the asses don’t like it!
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Coach Gina swearing, Asia responds…Oh no Coach, no cussin’ you owe me a quarter!
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October 2011

Since 2009 Asia has continued to say that she didn't want to run another full marathon, and was pretty adamant about it. She didn't enjoy her last marathon at all, and we supported her decision. Then on September 6 I received an email from Ben Fesasaiga, President of Train 4 Autism in California. He asked about Asia's running schedule for the coming year and casually mentioned that if Asia was interested, he would like to invite her to run on the T4A team in the Los Angeles Marathon on March 18, 2012. (Yeah, right, I thought. She'll never do it.) But I promised to mention it to her.

I was pleasantly surprised when the first words out of her mouth were NOT an emphatic NO! She asked excellent questions. Will Coach make me a schedule? Who will run the long runs with me? Who will run the race with me? (Marathons are the only races in which Asia has a dedicated running partner.) She said she’d think about it. The fact that she didn’t reply with an outright, emphatic NO is testament to how much she likes the Train 4 Autism people she’s met so far.

Several days later, more questions. Would she get to see Ben and Molly and meet Sam’s son? Where would we stay? Would we fly out there? She said she was still thinking about it.

Two weeks later we were at the hotel the night before the Brooksie Way Half-Marathon. We were about to settle down for the night, when Asia asked, “ Mom, are there any Chinese restaurants in LA?” That’s when I knew she was hooked. “Yes, honey,” I replied. “There are many Chinese restaurants, and about any other kind you can think of, in LA.” “Any all-you-can-eat buffet restaurants, mom?” Me: “Oh, I’ll bet we could find a few.” “OK,” she said. “I’ll go.”