Whenever my mother expressed pride in anything we did, she would immediatly chase away the evil eye lest the wrathful gods punish our hubris. Tonight was the HBO screening of the movie based on Temple Grandin’s life. And I’ve got to say, I was busting with pride. I worked as Temple’s editor on Thinking In Pictures, and continue to serve as her agent. It was extraordinary to see her life captured so intelligently and emotionally. But it’s Temple the scientist and Temple the visual thinker who clearly captured the imagination of the writer and director, and together they found a way to portray Temple’s autism without going all Rainman or I am Sam. Instead, it’s her genius you see. It’s her genius I salute. And lucky me, I get to have breakfast with her tomorrow.
Betsy Lerner 
Lucky you, indeed. You must be a wonderful editor. Your track record stands before you.
Temple Grandin’s work changed the life of a close friend of mine. Her daughter is high-functioning autistic, and the “high-functioning” aspect is at least partly due to Grandin’s books. Grandin’s work let Rachel interpret what was going on in Lucy’s mind more accurately and respond in a way that lets Lucy flourish. Equally important, the book gave her much more hope than anyone else was giving her. Rachel gave me “Animals in Translation” and now not only do I understand Lucy better, I also want a dog. 🙂
Lucy is my daughter’s best friend, and Madison has no idea that Lucy is any more “different” than anyone else. Lucy is LUCY — very quiet and shy and lovely, happy to let Madison be the one talking, the one devising things to do, the one in charge. Madison is happy to be the one to talk more than enough for them both. It works out well.
It is wonderful how Ms. Grandin’s work has influenced people in so many different walks of life, from animal equipment handling to frantic parents of young children who want their kids to be happy and healthy. I would love to be a person who has left such a profound footprint upon the world. If you get a chance to convey our gratitude (though it’s not as though she hasn’t heard it from thousands), please do!
So glad you liked the movie…we’ll look forward to it.
Betsy Betsy, with this recent string of success it can only mean that you’re about to get lucky with your screenplays. Nice job. Hope you’re having a nice breakfast.
ps just got the pages. thanks.
LOVE Temple Grandin! My son has Down Syndrome, and I’ve worked most of my life with people with all kinds of D.D.’s. The first time I read about her was in college. She’s amazing.
So are you, Betsy. You’ve had such a great career working with all kinds of people from Temple, to Jim Carroll to Dave Cullen…and so many others.
I wish you luck with your screenplays! Have a wonderful breakfast.
Temple’s book has been on my to read list for quite some time. Thanks for moving it back to the top. Like Kim, I have read Basketball Diaries and Columbine. You work with such amazing people!!
Have a great breakfast!!
So humane her perspective. I admire her.
I love her books–they’re among my favorites, in particular ANIMALS IN TRANSLATION, which I’ve read a couple of times.
I’ve heard several interviews with Grandin. She is brilliant. I will have to read her book.
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