Our family helped out with the different fund raising events (teacher vs. students basket ball game, car wash/garage sale etc), volunteered to make costumes and help back stage. By participating in these different events our family got to know others in the community, Adam had got to do things that started to help him reach beyond his normal state. Before the show happened I personally witnessed changes in a lot of the students as they were ladened with more responsibilities, and expectations of personal control and behavior. It was delightful to see the production of the Lion King jr. come together. I volunteered to take on the last of making a large three steered bird head piece. It was a challenge which I really enjoyed doing. I was able to get it to a certain point but when it came to attaching it to the little girl that would wear and dance in it that is where I was stuck. It wasn't until I brought it to the group that Dave Moshella figured our how to get this giant bird to sit comfortably on this little girl. Collaborating with others and helping build something was a lot of fun for me and I truly enjoyed being apart of a group outside of my family.
Opening day came and the emotions were running high backstage. There were tears, parents upset, costume repairs, and other minor dramas but despite all the chaos that was behind the scenes it went well on stage or so I was told. I got to see the whole show on Friday evening with the whole family. Adam did very well in his roll as a Gazelle. Josh and I agreed that it was the perfect roll for him. He got to be in several of the musical numbers that were sprinkled through out the play, he was with a group that he could follow, and he had a cool costume. I like that I could see his face and loved the fact that he looked like he was having a good time! Dress rehearsal was the toughest show for him and then after that he seemed to understand exactly what he needed to do and then with each show got more and more into his roll. He let his shell crack a little and the audience, if they were looking at the gazelle on the far left, got a glimpse inside our very quiet, reserved, fun and happy Adam. It brought me so much joy.
The ever awaited 5th Grade production of Lion King jr. came to a close and there were plenty of momentos, t-shirts, remembrances, pictures, and videos to burn this event into our memories for the rest of our lives. The moment that I will take with me is seeing Adam let it all hang out as he danced up on stage with gazelles on his hands and head. For just a few moments in the closing number he had
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