..Like an Enveloping-Kind-of-Love

While walking around just yesterday, i realized that i have been writing this blog for a little over a month.. and yet, i still haven't introduced you to my first love-at-first-sight. I have mentioned him, yes, i remember, but still.. the simple mentioning doesn't give him justice. You see, this boy, does more than light up my life.. he gives meaning to every little thing that i do. He is a very important element in making me the Meg that you know today. And i believe it is time that you get properly acquainted.
Karim entered my life in September 2006. I had heard so much about him from my best friend, from the way he sits like a little Buddha, to the way his big eyes sparkle.. but all his stories did not prepare me to what i felt the instant i saw him. He was sitting in his playroom on the white spongy floor, flipping quickly through the pages of some book. Standing watching him, i remember feeling nervous, scared.. and naive. This tiny little boy, with the soft cascading brown hair frightened me.
At the time i was embarrassed to admit to this feeling, but 5 years later, i have learned and grown so much because of this boy, that admitting this to you all feels as natural as admitting to my car-crazed fiancé that i still don't know how to change a flat tire.
People who know me well, know that i am someone who likes to have control. Not the kind of control over people, not the bossy type, but to be in control of what i am doing. I like to be prepared, informed, and perfectly à la hauteur at what i do. And this boy, well.. threw my structure, my books, and my research, out the window the second i saw him. I felt unveiled and bare, and completely and utterly lost.
As i watched him, flipping through the thin pages, i wondered if he would like me. Five minutes later, he walks out, and, upon noticing this strange girl in his space, looks straight at me.
He's looking at me! I remember silently thinking to myself, that must be a good sign!
My role in this child's life was to teach him, something i have always loved to do.. teach. But over the years, Karim has taught me much much more than i have ever taught an entire university classroom.

He has taught me patience, a virtue that i had never really owned prior to him.
He has taught me friendship. I cannot lie, Karim has turned his back at me many times, when i truly longed to reach out for him. But at the end of the day, all friends sometimes need their own space. And once i learned to respect that, not once has he abandoned me. He is always one bounce away to include me in his game once again.
He has taught me perseverance. I have always wanted to do things perfectly well, but when i fail at something, or fail to master it, i quickly give up... This boy, astonishes me every day with his fueled perseverance and effort to impress me, show me, prove to me, that he can do and say everything that he so cleverly knows i, as others, so badly want to instill in him.
He has taught me to pause. Pause, and realize how many things i have and still take for granted each and every day.. Like just how strong the sun can shine sometimes, and just how loud the music can resonate sometimes, and just how harsh the wind can slap my skin sometimes.. Little things that i am immune to, but that he silently suffers much more times that not.
And finally, he has taught me love. Unconditional love. The kind of love that envelops you and keeps you warm through the coldest days and the loneliest hours. With him, i am never lonely. And i hope he feels the same way.

Karim will be turning ten in two weeks time. He is the most handsome boy in the entire world, i tell him everyday. He is the bravest, most inspiring student i have come to know, i remind him everyday.
He loves basketball and marshmallows.
He can ride a bicycle, he can rollerblade, and he is super fast on his scooter.
He swims like a fish, and wouldn't mind a bit to spend an entire day in the pool.
He enjoys watching dvds while comfortably snuggled in his beanbag.. his favorite DVD right now seems to be Scooby Doo.
He is and will always be my first love.
He has autism, and he speaks to me everyday.
Thank you Karim, for making me a part of your life.

April is Autism Awareness Month. If you are lucky enough, one of these exceptionally special children will teach you all that i know now, and will surround you with their enveloping-kind-of-love. I am lucky, and i know it.