Daryl Blonder was born in New London, Connecticut in 1981 and raised in the nearby small town of Salem. At the age of 16, he was diagnosed with high-functioning autism. From the very beginning of his life, he has always known he was different from people around him, but he often hasn't realized 'how' different. Although identified in elementary school as "gifted," the challenges he faced as a child and adolescent as a result of the presence of high-functioning autism- difficulties socializing with and relating to his peers, cognitive impairments, intense interest in a narrow and esoteric range of topics, and unrelenting restlessness of body and mind- set him on a unique path in life. As society's expectations became increasingly difficult for him to live up to, Daryl had to find his own way. This book is an intense chronicle of victories achieved against all odds, heartbreaking and often terrifying episodes of misfortune, but ultimately, a personal triumph as he realizes his lifelong dream of working on movie sets and having the freedom to pursue his passion for traveling. -- from Back Cover.