David and Goliath

Here's 9-year-old David Militello, autistic and unable to speak until music broke through a barrier (somewhere after age 3.) He had never spoken a word since birth but one day, the schoolbus driver told David's mom that he (David) sang all the way to and home from school. Since then, David now speaks and sings regularly. He decided that he wanted to audition for "America's Got Talent." The judges and audience of "America's Got Talent" had their hearts completely grabbed and swept away that day by this child, as he sang "Ben" - made famous by Michael Jackson. I think this audition show was filmed before MJ died.

Little David told the judges his favorite group is the J5. Listen carefully to his speaking voice. It is not only sweet and unaffected, but you can hear the absolutely honesty of his statements, as well as the slightly stilted pitch/tone that many auties project after they've begun speaking. Some much more so. I loved this not just because he has a sweet voice, but because of the *possibility* that his love will touch so many hearts and may help break through some other barriers faced by our autistic loved ones. I gotta tell ya ... something magical happens on those "little yellow buses." Ben LOVES his bus and the ride to school. It is the most joyful and joyous part of my day, when I bring Ben out to the bus and all his little busmates bob up and down in their seats and call out with complete abandon and joy to Ben and me: "Hi Ben! Hi Ben! Hi Ben! Come on, Ben!" (The ones who can speak ... the ones who can't just hoot and holler anyway!) I holler back "Have a Happy Camper day, everyone!" And they squeal and laugh and I swear .. it is the most invigorating and amazing moment. As opposed to the "regular" bus when I send off and wave to Orion and Sarah. They wave back, but what glum chum faces there are. No joy, no laughter, just a bunch of kids dreading the start of the school day. Night and Day. Broccoli and spinach. Sun and rain. The difference in living for *right now and in the moment* as opposed to anticipating what's coming and the next moment.

ENJOY! Happy Camping David!!



BEN
Lyrics by Don Black, music by Walter Scharf:

Ben, the two of us need look no more
We both found what we were looking for
With a friend to call my own
I'll never be alone
And you my friend will see
You've got a friend in me
(you've got a friend in me)

Ben, you're always running here and there
(here and there)
You feel you're not wanted anywhere
(anywhere)
If you ever look behind
And don't like what you find
There's something you should know
You've got a place to go
(you've got a place to go)

I used to say, I and me
Now it's us, now it's we
(I used to say, I and me)
(now it's us, now it's we)

Ben, most people would turn you away
I don't listen to a word they say
They don't see you as I do
I wish they would try to
I'm sure they'd think again
If they had a friend like Ben
(a friend)
Like Ben
(like Ben)
Like Ben