family sounds

I love this city and it's extreme closeness to culture and the arts. The Houston Symphony has FREE lawn seating for it's performances at Woodlands Pavilion and this tribe took full advantage of great weather, a semi-open evening schedule and blankets on the grass this evening.


The show was "Out of this World" with music from E.T., Jetsons and, of course, Star Wars. We knew every set, either from the movies or from pieces the kids have played in band and orchestra. Matt and Emma even wore their Star Wars shirts.

My kids have been drug to music shows their entire lives (OK, for the little kids, their entire Vorholt lives), so they know to wait for the conductor to bring their arms down before applauding. They like listening to music, reproducing the noises they hear with their own mouthed sounds. Especially my deaf kid. He can make the exact sound, pitch and all, of complex instruments with his bionic ears.

The final song was the all-familiar theme from Star Wars. Nick jumped up and screamed "bum, bum", which has always been his way for saying Star Wars - it sounds like the beginning of the Darth Vadar music, imagine that! And then he began conducting! Little right arm was flying, with occasional motion from the cerebral palsy-affected left. He even screamed out "R-2" when the music became quiet. 

This child with his small head, severely damaged brain, recognized this music. He assumed the stance and motion of an orchestra conductor. He knew which movie the music originated. He knew the characters from the movie. He was beyond thrilled they were playing HIS "bum, bum". "Dad! Mom! Bum, Bum! Bum, Bum!" I was choking back the sobs of sadness and joy that flood my emotional self during moments like this. And I want to write the neurologist who told me this kid could never do the things he's doing now to set the record straight.