This is my Masterpiece

This is my Masterpiece

Friday, December 20, 2013

Aladdin… A whole new world.







For a long time the theme song to Aladdin has had a special significance to me.  Here are the lyrics:

I can show you the world
Shining, shimmering, splendid
Tell me, princess, now when did
You last let your heart decide?


I can open your eyes
Take you wonder by wonder
Over, sideways and under
On a magic carpet ride

A whole new world
A new fantastic point of view
No one to tell us no
Or where to go
Or say we're only dreaming

A whole new world
A dazzling place I never knew
But when I'm way up here
It's crystal clear
That now I'm in a whole new world with you
Now I'm in a whole new world with you

Unbelievable sights
Indescribable feeling
Soaring, tumbling, freewheeling
Through an endless diamond sky

A whole new world
Don't you dare close your eyes
A hundred thousand things to see
Hold your breath - it gets better
I'm like a shooting star

I've come so far
I can't go back to where I used to be


A whole new world
Every turn a surprise
With new horizons to pursue
Every moment red-letter
I'll chase them anywhere
There's time to spare
Let me share this whole new world with you

A whole new world
That's where we'll be
A thrilling chase
A wondrous place
For you and me

Gavin gave us a whole new world.  

He encouraged us to love life, voraciously.  He gave us reason to celebrate every breath, every step and every triumph.  He taught us to look at the miracles of the universe from the blade of grass growing in the crack in the sidewalk all the way up to the sliver of silver moon against the bluest of skies perched atop fluffy white clouds.  He showed us it all matters; everyone matters.  He revealed to us though we are all small, though we all need a hand from time to time, we can accomplish great things with great love… the smallest kindness can transform hearts.

When I found out I was carrying a child with Down syndrome, I “let my heart decide.” It has been a life of “indescribable feelings,” and he is my “shooting star.”

So I guess it is no surprise to you that I am crying before the house lights go down.  Hugging Gavin, crying happy tears on my magic carpet ride of a life he has brought to me.

The theatre is beautiful.  Agra bar is part of the stage and the theatre has been built around the Aladdin theme.  It is spectacular, Broadway quality.  The show starts… and it is a dazzling show.  No inch of the theatre is left untouched by the magic… isles, ceiling and balconies… film clips, pyrotechnics, people suspended on fly wire or disappearing through the floor, giant dancing elephants and glowing camels.

I haven’t mentioned Genie yet.  A-Ma-Zing!  Funny, timely comedy… he doesn’t miss a current event or a beat.  He is fantastic!


After robust applause we are making our way out of the theatre and my mom reaches out to grab my son’s shoulder.  She doesn’t want to lose him in the crowd.  He turns to look to see who is holding onto him and she realizes it isn’t Gavin.  It is another boy who also happens to have Down syndrome.  His name is Austin and he is 14.  We have one of those “you’re my family” moments right there in the lobby.  We share one of our “pin trading” pins with Austin… and we are crying the happy tears again.

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