"Excuse me"

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I'm usually pretty good about understanding what people mean, but sometimes when I am thinking about several things at once or very distracted, my mind goes to it's default, literal, setting. A few minutes ago I was in my older daughters room, talking to both daughters about what I was making for dinner. They are going to the store and I was telling one what chicken parts to get, and the kind of rice I want. The other was sweeping her floor and talking about us not having Swiffer pads, so I was trying to carry on two conversations at once. I had moved over by her dresser out of the way and she came over by me and said "Excuse me" and was sweeping around me. I took that to mean "Excuse me, I don't want to be rude, but I'm sweeping around you" so I stood still and kept carrying on both conversations. She poked my feet with the broom a few times and kept saying "Excuse me, excuse me!" I said "OH! You mean 'move'! I thought you just wanted me to excuse you for sweeping around me!" She laughed and said "No Mom, I meant move. You were so happy just then when you figured that out!". Then she went to sweep where the dog was laying and told him "Excuse me" too, but he got it the first time, unlike me.

I hate when that happens. It would have been embarrassing if it hadn't been at home, where people are used to me being like that. I usually know when it means move. I say it to mean move. I was just off in chicken and Swiffer pad land and it went right over my head.

Frances

This happens to me all the time, too. Intellectually I know what things can mean, and can often juggle the meanings, if Im thinking about it in my head, but when Im around other people I can come off as the most naive airhead ever! I understand how to make a sarcastic comment, but when someone actually speaks that way to me in conversation I get completely confused or dont recognize the sarcasm quickly enough.

I guess after people are around me for awhile they start to realize they have to say things quite specifically or face endless frustration.

That's so funny, that kind of stuff happens to me all the time! I had a little situation not too long ago where somebody was showing me a card that a few people had signed and explaining how they had pitched in for a cake for the person the card was addressed to. I didn't clue in to the fact that she was asking me to pitch in as well until she stood there awkwardly for a bit and finally said "so will you?". Of course I did contribute but it would have been easier if she had just told me right off the bat that she was asking me. I always do my best to be super clear with people, I didn't even know this was an Asperger thing until recently. Sheesh.

I dunno why but i love the way you write stories