An actual happy birthday

Henry has hated birthdays for many years. I've blogged before about his gag response to birthdays and in particular the song. Many years of vomiting during birthday parties has been worked out through years of OT and patient teachers and now they are tolerated. Today was his friend Giles' birthday. When he and his basketball buddies got into my car this afternoon they were buzzing about Giles and the party. I was pleased that it was a topic able to be discussed!

After basketball Henry, Giles, and Giles' Mom and I walked to the car. Before I could really wish Giles a happy birthday, Henry stopped and embraced Giles. A normal Henry hug is a back hug -- you open your arms and he puts his back to you and lets you put your arms around him. Giles is a good friend of Henry's. We've been driving together to OCA for a lot of years and now we are neighbors.

So Henry embraced Giles and held on tight. Giles is tall and skinny and Henry is short and stocky. Giles tried to move away, but Henry squeezed him again, arms around Giles shoulders. Then, as though he were from France or Egypt, he kissed Giles on the cheek. Giles had a perfectly normal response of total awkwardness but of course Giles mom and I were ooohing and ahhhing.

And it was awkward and unique.

But for me it was totally beautiful. To see Henry embracing a birthday, embracing a friend...a moment of pure joy.