Peanut butter and jelly and autism

Today is World Autism Day, so I'm going to talk about PB&J. (It's also national Peanut Butter and Jelly Day, just so you know.)

There's nothing quite like a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. You have so many options for the sandwich - type of bread, crunchy or creamy peanut butter and your choice of jelly flavors. And then there are the add-ons. Some people add fruit like bananas to their sandwiches. Others put additional condiments on the sandwich, and still others subtract from the sandwich by cutting the crusts off their bread.

I like PB&J. I don't really have a preference when it comes to crunchy or creamy peanut butter. I like both. When it comes to jelly, I can go with almost any flavor - strawberry, apricot, apple, grape, etc. (but what does etc. taste like?) - it's all good. I don't have a favorite really. It's usually whatever strikes my fancy as I walk down the jelly aisle at the grocery store.

I do like adding potato chips to my sandwich, though. They have to be the plain chips - no Doritos or Cheetos for this particular addition. Potato chips add an extra layer of flavor and texture to the sandwich. Plus, by putting the chips in the sandwich, my fingers don't get as salty during lunch.

I remember adding chips when I was younger. My brothers and I would add the chips, take a very satisfying bite and say, with an early attempt at humor, "why is my sandwich so crunchy?" Goofy, I know, and I think Mom rolled her eyes every time we said it, but we thought it was funny.

Adding chips doesn't work for every type of sandwich, however. Sandwiches like baloney or ham or turkey really don't need the extra layer. And the combination of chips with sandwich meat isn't quite as workable as chips and PB&J. Just so you know.

I can't finish this post without talking briefly about autism. My nephew Brenden has been diagnosed as autistic, so it's become a cause I pay more attention to. The B-Man lives in New York with his parents, sister and two brothers, so I don't get to see them very often. However, his mother (my sister) keeps us updated on their goings-on, so I can keep track of what they're doing.

I admire what they do with him. It can't be easy to have a child with special needs, especially one who doesn't talk much. They, however, keep him involved in activities, work with him one-on-one when they can and make sure he's an integral part of their family.