My Friend Craig

I have this very special friend who is not afraid to reveal himself completely. Upon meeting him, he will always inform the new person to whom he is being introduced that he has Aspergers Syndrome.

Though Craig was delighted to find some relief in a label that better described for him why he was so different to most people, I am always in complete disagreement that it is a handicap whatsoever, for if there was ever a friend I would like to duplicate, it is my friend Craig.

And, I have come to believe that this Aspergers Syndrome has been of great benefit to making Craig exactly who he is...an absolute gem of a friend that one cannot duplicate in one's self, but merely must be ready, willing and able to stand in awe of.

I stood in awe of Craig the day he completely organized, brought his own tools with his home-made and movable work stand and proceeded to mount the top of my flats to fix my precarious water tank. Our flats were yellow stickered until this event could take place. And, we had a 4.2 aftershock while he was up there, but in Craig's terms, "It wasn't a problem", as he was strapped to the tank in a completely professional and safe manner while I was beneath him chewing on my underwear.

When you live in Christchurch, New Zealand, you live with yellow, red and green stickers. Yellow is caution, Red is keep out and Green is go in if you are still willing. I was not willing to go into these flats for nearly a year so traumatized was I in my own mind for several seasons, but that is a different story, this story is about Craig.

Craig has no fear of anything, in fact, he seems to thrive in this new environment heaped upon us so-called normal folks. Before the earthquakes, Craig felt out of place, after the earthquakes, he feels completely at ease while the rest of us look to him for guidance.

Craig's ease does not come from being lazy, but from being completely prepared to learn and do all of life's necessities whilst still finding time to stay up with current affairs of all types. Craig reminds you when the concerts are on, what the latest conflicts are about, what solutions have been discovered and who of importance is coming to town and offers to take you with him wherever he goes.

The fact that Craig has an engineering degree has not gone stale in an environment that does not furnish jobs for people like Craig. Craig creates his own work by helping every single person he knows and hears that might have a problem. He fixes their cars, their homes, chops their wood and stacks it, orders their parts at reduced rates, counsels people with psychological problems, takes you to meditation groups or to get your car warranted and bakes the best cheesecakes in this world! There is nothing Craig will not attempt as long as it brings some benefit to someone.

When Craig is your friend, he is not just there for you, but he is also there for each of your children, your significant other and all your other friends. Craig is a truly universal, completely democratic time sharer who never seems to grow tired of helping anyone with a need. Craig is a living and breathing miracle.

And, he reminds me of someone else I have always wanted to meet...