Re: Fw: [Fwd: The Concert]

[Guest guest]

This e-mail made me pause and reflect, as it brought to mind a

funny, but touching incident that happened a few months back. My dd

Deb and her oldest dd, Abbey were both in our Community Theatre

Musical, " Annie. " I took the two little ones, Noah (ASD) who was not

quite 5, and his partner in crime, 3 yo sis MacKenzie, to the dress

rehearsal. They had been listening to their mom and sister singing

along with the CD over the past several months. I wanted them to see

the play, but no way was I going to bring them to a regular

performance that lasted several hours!!!!

Anyway, we sat in the middle of a fairly empty auditorium, pretty

far back. They were being amazingly good, so I let down my guard and

began to relax, enjoying the show. Both kids seemed mezmarized as

they recognized the songs, but had never seen the performance.

I heard Kenzie singing along with Annie...Tomorrow, tomorrow, I love

ya, tomorrow...! I heard Noah singing along " It's a hard knock

life... "

When the scene opened where the " street people " were

mulling around complaining about Herbert Hoover, I heard Noah

say " There's my mommy! " I smiled to myself, thinking " Wow, how far

he's come to be able to sit there and be so observant and involved. "

Next thing I knew, he was out of his seat, running up toward the

stage. Before I could grab Kenzie and stop him, he ran right up the

stairs, took his place with the children in the scene, faced the

audience (right up front of course) and started bellowing out " We'd

like to thank you Herbert Hoover, for making us what we are

today... " and completed the entire song and scene. He never once

went up to his mother, who at that time, was center stage and had a

solo singing part. As the cast raised their arms at the end of the

song, so did he!!!! At the closing of the scene, as the littlest

kids were being picked up and carried off stage, Deb non-chelantly

walked over, scooped him up and walked off with the rest of them.

Honestly, we laughed so hard, we had tears in our eyes! Fellow cast

members had no clue that he has autism!

Of course, that was it for us. I knew that I would no longer be able

to keep them in their seats and this dress rehersal was just too

important to risk unintended interuptions.

The point is, nobody stopped the show because a little boy ran up to

join them. They kept right on singing and so did he.

What wonderful, encouraging words from Paderewski to that small

child... and what simple but invaluable words of encouragement to

all of us. As we continue to put our arms around our children and

help them to reach each new accomplishment, we have to remember

those magical words... " Don't guit. Keep playing! "

>

>

> ----- Original Message -----

> From: Witkowski, ine

> JIM & DI (E-mail) ; KRUZER (E-mail) ; MARY & kEITH (E-mail) ;

MARY GARRETT (E-mail) ; Mahoney, ; Liotta, Vince ; Nichols,

; 'AAAOMA.COM'

> Sent: Wednesday, July 19, 2006 10:42 AM

> Subject: FW: [Fwd: The Concert]

>

>

>

> -----Original Message-----

> From: GREETHAM, CASEY (PCSVC) [mailto:CASEY.GREETHAM@...]

> Sent: Tuesday, July 18, 2006 12:21 PM

> Witkowski, ine; alyons@...; tbogg75@...; Sonya Oliver;

Pam Schisler

> Subject: FW: [Fwd: The Concert]

>

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> The Concert

>

> When the house lights dimmed

>

> And the concert was about to begin,

>

> The mother returned to her seat

>

> And discovered that the child was missing.

> Suddenly, the curtains parted

>

> And spotlights focused on the impressive Steinway on

stage.

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> In horror, the mother saw her little

> Boy sitting at the keyboard, innocently picking out

>

> " Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star. "

>

> At that moment,

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> The great piano master made his entrance,

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> Quickly moved to the piano,

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> And whispered in the boy's ear,

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> " Don't quit.

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> Keep playing. "

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> Then, leaning over,

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> Paderewski reached down with his left hand

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> And began filling in a bass part.

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> Soon his right arm reached

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> Around to the other side of the child,

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> And he added a running obbligato.

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> Together, the old master and the young novice

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> Transformed what could have been a frightening situation

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> Into a wonderfully creative experience.

>

> The audience was so mesmerized

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> That they couldn't recall what else the great master

played.

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> Only the classic,

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> " Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star. "

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> Perhaps that's the way it is with God.

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> What we can accomplish on our own is hardly noteworthy.

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> We try our best,

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> But the results aren't always graceful flowing music.

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> However, with the Hand of the Master,

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> Our life's work can truly be beautiful.

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> The next time you set out to accomplish great feats,

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> Listen carefully.

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> You may hear the voice of the Master,

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> Whispering in your ear,

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> " Don't quit. "

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> " Keep playing. "

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> May you feel His arms around you

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> And know that His hands are there,

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> Helping you turn your feeble attempts

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> Into true masterpieces.

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> Remember,

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> God doesn't seem to call the equipped,

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> Rather, He equips the 'called.'

> Life is more accurately measured by the lives you touch

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> Than by the things you acquire.

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> So touch someone by passing this little message along.

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> May God bless you and be with you always!

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> And remember ,

>

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> " Don't quit. "

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> " Keep playing. "

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> HAVE A BLESSED DAY!

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> Open multiple messages at once with the all new Beta.

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