Another Fine Mess You've Gotten Us Out Of

This space usually holds the editor’s blog, The True-Life Adventures of a Senior Newspaper Publisher. Readers of my last post may recall that I had planned to write about Northwest Prime Time’s longtime production manager / designer, Jason Reynolds. When Jason started with us nearly 20 years ago, he was a fresh-faced, new graduate, eager to launch into the graphic design business. 

Not only has Jason done such an excellent job for Northwest Prime Time, but he’s delivered us out of many a tight spot and over some mighty rough roads, all with a calm, pleasant demeanor and never a complaint in sight.

When the first of this month rolled around, I realized that I had completely forgotten about my monthly blog. I asked Jason if he would mind sharing a young photo of himself so that I could relate back to that fresh-faced kid when I wrote a little blurb about why there was no blog this month. Jason came through once again, not only sending this super-cute photo, but providing permission to post an article he wrote a while back for his own blog. Talk about fresh-faced. 

At the end, you will find more information about his website. If you read it, you will know what I mean when I say that Jason is such a good guy. As always, thanks Jason!  

~Michelle Roedell, Editor, Northwest Prime Time

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TBT (Throwback Thursday) – 1985- Modeling for Nordstroms

…by Jason Reynolds

So, I got my first job when I was 3.

My dad saw an open ad for child models for Nordstroms and sent in my picture (headshot). He got a call back a short time later about bringing me in for an “interview.” I don’t remember the interview much, but it involved a lot of people dressing me up in one outfit and posing me… “move your head this way…move your arm here… turn toward me…” and then dressing me up AGAIN in a different outfit and repeating the same thing…for a couple hours. Most kids that age (3) would not last that long doing something like that. My 5-year-old would not last that long…He doesn’t even want to put his clothes on in the morning for school.

But I was a pretty easy-going little guy. I followed instructions without complaining, and I listened attentively. If those were the requirements, I’m sure there was a lot of competition for that job. I’m sure mom’s everywhere jumped at the opportunity to have their kid featured as a Nordy’s model… (guardian of EMPLOYEE) DISCOUNTS!

Not to mention it paid $30/hour… in 1985.

Now I don’t know if it was because of my uber-calmness, or to fill a “minority” quota, but they ended up giving ME the job. At age three. A model for Nordstroms. Great right?

So for my first shoot, they paired me up with a boy named Ben. They put him in a slick-looking zoot suit and put me in… a 3-piece shorts-suit. Complemented with knee-high socks and black penny loafers. …*sigh*

The way I saw it they were…

…Girl clothes.

My mom tried to reason with me that I was wearing “baseball socks” but I wasn’t convinced. My mom asked me if I wanted to keep doing it and I told her I would rather go outside and play.

I have to hand it to my mom. We were by no means “well off” and that kind of money back then would have been pretty substantial. The temptation to force me to continue to model, or at least convince me to try a few more times was probably very real. Afterall, I didn’t understand the opportunity I was given at such a young age, but my parents realized the value of a fun-filled childhood and respected freedom to choose.

I lasted precisely ONE shoot.

Sometimes it makes me wonder how my life would have been different if I had continued down that path. I would have had a huge portfolio by the time I even started kindergarten. Just thinking about the money for college, money for my parents, money for anything… hmm..

and yet at the same time… It would have changed me forever. I would have become self-conscious about my looks and appearance. My worldview would have been shaped by the modeling industry and I would have the mindset that my self-worth is only as good as my ability to sell a product.

In the end, I’m glad I didn’t continue with modeling, as I would not be the person I am today, and I would not be where I am today.

But sometimes…just sometimes, I wonder “what if?”

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Who are we?

We are an ‘Ausome’ family residing in the Pacific Northwest. I (Dad) started this Blog just after Jonah was diagnosed with Autism (non-verbal) in 2016. As we got more involved in the ‘special needs’ community, we were made aware that Jonny possibly has traits consistent with something called Kabuki Syndrome. We are still waiting for genetic testing results (as of 2021).

Why “A Touch of Ausome?”

Originally, it was just “Awesome + autistic.”

But we have adapted “AUSOME” to refer to ANYTHING related to our parenting journey. Our specific ‘brand’ of parenthood..

Before my son was diagnosed, I saw “autism” through the stereotypical lens of the media. Autism was something to fear. Something I could “accept” in others, but not something I would ever wish on my children.

Through my own personal parenting journey of self-discovery, I have found that my son’s neurology is a huge part of what makes him who he is. And even with all the difficulties, I love that part of him.

I use “Ausome,” because not everyone would see it the same way as I do now. They haven’t gone on that parenting journey. And even those who have may see it differently.

They may not see ‘autism’ as ‘awesome.’ And that’s their journey. They have their own story.

But for me personally?

I don’t just “accept” my ‘autistic’ child. I celebrate my AUSOME son, and I genuinely believe the world needs more people just like him.