Do you hear what I see??

I was watching Sunday Morning, my favorite Sunday show, and it brought back a memory, which I will share[of course!!]. It will probably surprise you...or not...

Celine Dion was singing,

"For all those times you stood by me..."

Many years ago, a friend of mine agreed to attend her relative's eight year old daughter's participation in a beauty pageant. It was a Sunday, I had nothing going on, and so I accompanied her to help speed the one hour ride each way. I could not imagine that there would be anything good about the event. I absolutely detest the concept of beauty pageants, especially for kids. I was merely an observer. It had many facets that I would have trouble expressing in words, but suffice it to say that 'beauty is in the eye of the beholder' and for me...it rests in the heart and soul of a person. blah, blah blah! Anyway...

During the intermission, entertainment was provided by one of the judges. She was a twenty-something young woman[ the youngest of the judges], a singer-dancer, and a former pageant participant. And winner, I would assume.

She stood in the center of the stage, cued the music, and Celine Dion's voice soared throughout the room. And then it became totally mesmerizing to me, because...she depicted the song in sign language. All of the emotion, the rise and fall of the vocal rendition, and the heartfelt story was told with her arms, hands, and fingers.

"You were my eyes when I couldn't see...you were my voice when I couldn't speak"...etc.

I was amazed. I loved it. It was such an unexpected treat.

Later on, as I complimented her on her 'voiceless' expression of song, I explained that as an elementary school teacher, I wished that the kids could see this creativity within song. After clearing it with the principal, a short assembly was organized for the kids. The focus word of the month was 'communication', and the kids were surprised at how she sang a song with 'sign language', a very real form of communication. She also brought a trunk with costumes, scarves, masks, etc. and spoke about drama and acting. It was fun.

Wrapping it up on a light note, I also remember that the men in the building were more impressed with the length of her skirt. Well, it was what it was. And there you have it:

Beauty remains in the eye of the beholder!!!