I Wish I was a Vampire

I have been watching <u>The Vampire Diaries</u> since it started airing. In its 3rd season, I am finding it to be an interesting take on vampires. Granted, given some of the RECENT vampire novels/movies, I can see how some people might be thinking, "Oh, no, not another SPARKLY vampire love story!" but it's actually pretty realistic when it comes to vampire lore and physiology. What I like about this show's portrayal of vampires is their emotions. Being supernatural beings , they are immortal. However, they used to be human, unlike most other supernaturals. Therefore, they still have emotions and these still have an effect on them.<br /><br />Think about it...vampres are not human, they are closer to animals with human shapes and histories. They have heightened senses (being predatorial) and will kill to survive (food/blood, threats, etc.), but they still have to deal with human emotions over what they do (regret, etc.). Plus, with everything heightened, their emotions must be really intense. SO, in the show, they can just "turn them off."<br /><br />With my AS, I am in a similar position. I have really intense emotions. I believe that the "Aspie meltdowns" are just these intense emotions being released without any control. I have spent the past 38 years trying to gain control of my intense emotional responses to things, and STILL have difficulty doing it. The vampires in the show can just turn them off. I wish I could do that. I get tired, and I start yelling at my kids; I get stressed out, and I can feel my emotions boiling over. When I feel them boiling over, I get quiet, and try to walk away to be by myself. Others don't understand this - they think I am trying to avoid the problem. If I was a vampire, maybe they'd understand that I was different, but since I only have AS, they think I am trying to avoid the problem.<br /><br />If I was a vampire, when people I care about, like my wife, thought I was avoiding things, I could tutn off my emotions and do what needed to be done. I could do it without caring about what other people thought about it, or having to stop and explain it to my loved ones while trying to hold my cool. If I could turn off my emotions, I wouldn't need to worry about them.<br /><br />It makes sense to have immortal beings that can turn off emotions. Can you imagine the loneliness after seeing those you love grow old and die? Not being able to do what needs to be done without collateral damage? Turning off their emotions must be a survival instinct. If I had that ability as an Aspie, my life would be so much easier...<br /><br />