dancing through

This time last year Dancer/Skater/Cutie was in a wheelchair after a car accident that nearly killed her.  She had a fractured pelvis and various other injuries, and when I took her to see a musical during her recovery, she wondered if she'd ever be able to dance again.

For those who read my irregular musings with any regularity, you know that she did.  With luck, great medical support, and the powerful determination she's demonstrated since she was a little thing, she flew across the stage of her community theater last spring as Peter Pan.  And when she turned 18 last fall and began preparing to go off to college, I asked what I could get her for a graduation/18th bday prezzie:Tickets to a Broadway show, she said, without skipping a beat. 

Of the shows she wanted to see, one was Jersey Boys, and since I'd met John Lloyd Young - one of the stars of that show - last year when he performed at a benefit for the organization I work for (we also have some friends in common), I decided to use that connection to snag some house seats for us (for those not in theater, house seats are in cream of the crop locations and they're usually held for VIPs, friends of the producers, cast, etc.) I snagged us some primo tickets during her October break and I also arranged to bring her backstage - where John gave us a tour. 

Gracious as can be after a huge night performing (he must have been exhausted, but he didn't show it), he took us around backstage, telling D/S/C all sorts of fun tidbits about the show and how he trained for the role.  As we walked out onto the stage, one of the crew came by to ask him a question and while this was going on, D/S/C leaned over to me, clutched my arm, and in a barely contained whisper bubbled: Uncle Debbie, I'm standing on a Broadway stage!

Does it get any better?

I just love that the work that I do offers me the chance to give my niece a view of that dream life she's heading for, and I'm beyond happy that she's the determined person she is ... that by her sparkling example she reminds me that getting through the hard stuff is possible ... dancing all the way.

Comments

[Marilyn]

Hard to believe that was a year ago already...glad she's doing so well. And bonus points to Auntie! :)

[Will]

Woah---way too cool. Could you be my aunt?