I have a teenage nephew who is autistic, and one of his biggest challenges is distinguishing between what others consider to be socially appropriate and inappropriate behavior. So when Gene was hanging out with a group of teens from the family this summer, he asked in the most open and friendly way, “Hey, are any of you on medication?” He just wanted to share an important part of his own daily routine. But my favorite Gene story of late extended outside of the family circle, to Larry David, the co-creator of “Seinfeld,” and the eternally peeved star of HBO’s “Curb Your Enthusiasm.”
Gene and my 8-year-old son, Adam, do a lot of bonding over their favorite “Sponge Bob” episodes. Gene often watches TV shows on his iPad, and uses ear plugs so others won’t be disturbed by the sound–but he and Adam will share ear plugs so they both can listen. One morning, when Gene was watching by himself and laughing a great deal, I assumed we could thank Sponge Bob for his joy. But it turned out that he was watching an episode of “Curb Your Enthusiasm.”
I was surprised, since it seemed like the kind of adult show whose subtleties might be beyond him.
Just the opposite, it turns out.
His mom explained. “Yeah, Gene really relates to Larry David because of how Larry’s always getting into a mess by saying things that are socially inappropriate. Gene loves it,” she said. “When he first saw it, he asked me if Larry was autistic.”
When I think of all the things Gene’s parents have done over the years to help him, I can get misty-eyed at their everyday heroism. But, in other ways, their parenting reality is relatable to any parent: A child drives you crazy and then says something that is so inimitably and wonderfully themselves, it reminds of how much you love them and it makes you wonder at mystery of who they are and how they think.
“Is Larry David autistic?” Of all my favorite “Seinfeld” and “Curb Your Enthusiasm” moments, that may well be number one.
Eric Messinger is Editor of New York Family. He can be reached at emessinger@manhattanmedia.com
