Whitman's Epic Cross-Country Trip

15| 51

Since he was 9 my now 15-year old son Whitman has expressed an extraordinary interest in seeing California. And not just California, but specifically Los Angeles. He has a healthy obsession with all things movies: the stories, the actors, the music, the production studios, you name it. He's a walking IMDB. He and I see at least 2-3 movies a month. That's his thing. He picks the movies, I buy the popcorn. Whitman has autism. He was diagnosed when he was 2. That seems like a few lifetimes ago. He is verbal, very imaginative, and has the best laugh I've ever heard. He loves to draw, to go to the pool, to have breakfast at his favorite diner, to play video games, and to, as he puts it, "explore the city" (we drive around Charlottesville, Virginia and he listens to me ramble on about the history of different neighborhoods and of UVA). Whitman is an amazing and brave kid. I am so proud of him, and so proud to be his dad. His dream is to see the LA skyline, the Griffith Observatory, Universal Studios, the Santa Monica Pier, that kind of thing. Real tourist stuff. He looks at the photos online. He wants to see the desert too. He talks about it all the time. Like I say, he has for YEARS.


I've always told Whitman that "when you're 15" we'll figure out how to get out to California. That seemed to buy me some time. He turned 15 last December. He has been reminding me of that ever since. I told him "we'll figure it out next summer." Well, here we are. I can't put this off any longer. He's been too good and so patient. The thought of putting him on a plane isn't tenable. My genuine concern is that if he has some kind of a meltdown (and those of you with autism in your life know exactly what I'm talking about), we'd probably end up on YouTube or on the evening news or both. So the idea is to rent a car or hopefully even a camper, just put in the hours (days), and try my best to make this kid's dream come true.

It's the summer of his 15th year. It's the summer of my 51st. The plan is to write on my Facebook page about our trip as we go, put up some updates, photos, some of Whitman's drawings, and share some personal reflections: A Daddy, A Son, Autism and America. As a writer and journalist, I've been asked for years to write about Whitman and autism. I've always politely declined. It hits so close to home, too close, and I haven't really had the words. I've tried to talk about it on the radio sometimes, and just end up crying. But I think it's time. I've got a window end of this month to possibly make this happen.

I know I could spend months planning a trip like this, and perhaps I should be. But part of me feels like we should just go do this. Make it happen. He and I, together. And I'll look forward to having you join us, virtually, along the way. THANK YOU.


Oh, and for those of you already mulling all this over, I'm thinking I-40. It goes right through the Mojave — where I can behold my son's face as he sees the desert for the first time.