New "Milestones"-Ryan's Play Date

Yes, I said Ryan's, not Emily's play date. Em has had probably 60 playdates at age 9. Ryan has had two friends over in his life, and he is 11. He is diagnosed as Autistic, but no one has ever found a hole he fits in to, no matter how hard everyone tries! He has been asking to have David (an eighth grader in his class) over for a few weeks. When he kept asking, I guessed he maybe meant it. Sometimes he just says things but does not really want them to become a reality-but this, I could tell, was different. He even managed to get David's phone number, and a few days ago, he picked up the phone and called him. This is a first. Their idea of a get together may be very different from yours and mine, but who cares? He had a friend over. They played DS side by side. They played Wii Sports. They spoke in a strange manner to each other. They had a snack. They even laughed here & there. They seem to get each other in a way I really can't. This has made me feel happy-because I had accepted that Ryan is different from the start, but never knew if he would be lonely as an adult. WE think he is hilarious, adorable, interesting and brilliant, but I often wondered how his manner would fly "out there". I think he's gonna be okay.