If you know Sarah well then you know that the most important thing when arriving at a concert venue or gift shop of any sort is to buy a t-shirt and find a place to change into said t-shirt. Last Sunday we donned the personalized Peppa shirts I got us at Christmas and went downtown to see a Peppa Pig Symphony. In hilarious Daddy Pig fashion, Carl first led us to the wrong venue. (I had perhaps not communicated clearly enough about where we were going). Once we got to Heinz Hall and got through to the merchandise table we realized the terrible truth that there were no shirts. In fact, the only thing they were selling was a light-up spinning wand thingie, which made me think no one on the Peppa Symphony staff thought about epilepsy and how it might not be a good idea for some people to be surrounded by spinning lights!
Sarah was so disappointed. As Carl attended to a screaming and crying Sarah, Amy slipped off to find a bathroom. When she returned she was carrying her own shirt and was wearing her hoodie zipped fully. She offered her shirt to Sarah to no avail. But still, Amy literally gave Sarah the shirt off her back! I was so moved by the sweetness of the gesture I couldn’t be teary because it was as if my heart was too full.
The staff at Heinz Hall was kind and solicitous but not even free popcorn and candy and a headset to watch the show from a tv in the lobby could mend Sarah’s upset. When we finally made it back out to the street we walked to get milkshakes. Sarah was in better shape as soon as we were on our way, so Carl put his emergency Granddad photo away. We laughed upon realizing that we each carry an emergency pocket Granddad photo to supplement those that Sarah has in her purse. After enjoying our milkshakes Carl and Sarah took the bus home, because Sarah loves buses, while Amy and I drove. Overall it actually felt like a wonderful family experience filled with love and support.
Despite love, support, and Granddad pictures, Sarah still had a very rough time Thursday morning. Her substitute bus driver dropped her off half an hour before she is supposed to arrive at school. Luckily there were a few other students and she was able to get into the building, but normally doors don’t open until 7:30. By the time her teachers arrived she was in a full meltdown. After an hour of trying to help her recover, they called me to come get her. Luckily the next day she had a substitute driver that she has had before and who knows to sit and listen to music in the parking lot if they arrive too early.
I’m away this weekend for a book signing and visiting family. Book signings are actually pretty slow events if you don’t have local friends coming. Luckily I was paired with another author who has become a friend over the past year of shared book events, so we had a fun time hanging out.
The girls and Carl are having a Dad Weekend. Yesterday they went to the National Aviary for a Higgy Friends meet-up and went to dinner at Aladdin’s. Granddad’s picture attended too, of course. At the Aviary Carl realized that one bird matched Amy with her pink hair and green shirt.
May you have a friend who would literally give you the shirt off their back in a time of need. (Note that Carl has given me his coat or blocked cold wind with his own chilled self many times to spare me from freezing.)
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