My husband, Don and I took a short vacation to Plymouth, Massachusetts back in July to visit our very good friend, Andrew Botieri. Andrew is a very accomplished professional with a successful track record in sales/advertising and a very talented musician!

We were thrilled to be able to attend Andrew’s performance at a local resort called Plymouth Sands hotel. There was a little boy in the audience with his parents who was wearing a very colorful madras plaid shirt. Andrew called out to him “Who’s that in the madras shirt?” The boy looked down at his shirt, beamed a smile and yelled, “Me!” The little boy’s name was Garrett, and it was evident that he had down syndrome. His parents shared that he loved to dance to the song “Blue Suede Shoes!” So, Andrew persuaded Garrett to come up to the front with him and perform. What treat for all! Click on the video link to experience Garrett and Andrew performing!

Andrew and Garrett Video

Oh, and I might mention that Garrett received a standing ovation and high fived every person in the audience on his way back to his seat! In turn, each person returned the high five with a generous tip, a $5 dollar bill! Garrett made out like a bandit!

What an unforgettable moment not only for Garrett, but every person who experienced this little boy who truly was filled with love and happiness and was whole heartily “in the moment!” Garrett’s Mom came up during the break and said “You all made Garrett’s night, to which I replied, “Oh, no, it is he who made our night!”

Click on the video link to experience Garrett and Andrew performing! Priceless! Just Priceless!

Abby, my three year-old grandbaby was visiting last week. We are busy playing outside and enjoying a glorious sunny day…feeding the ducks, throwing a ball, taking a walk, practicing to be hula hoop performers ( you’ll see us in the upcoming months in a hula hoop competition!) and watering Mamaw’s flowers.

I bent down in the grass to pick up the hula hoops, when I felt a gentle tug on my arm…I turned and there was Abby with a small yellow dandelion in her hand. Her face lit up as bright as the sunshine and she bent over, kissed me on the cheek and said, “I love you Mamaw! I picked this for you… Isn’t it pretty?!” “I smiled and tears began flowing down my cheeks… I said, “Thank you! I love it, it is just beautiful!”

Abby then asked if we could take the dandelion in the house and put it in water so it would stay pretty. We did just that! Several times during the afternoon and even into early evening, and many times the next day, Abby had to take a peek at her present, the dandelion, to make sure it was ok.

Wow! The emotions and feelings that flew around in those precious moments were incredible…

My mind re-winded to my childhood, when I recalled the moment I first gave my Mom her first dandelion. Do you remember doing that and how excited you were? Do you recall your Mom’s reaction?

And then, of course, I pictured the first time my son, Matt, handed me my first dandelion. I felt the emotions of receiving the most pure, precious gift…a loving gift right from the heart, just as strongly as I did so many years ago!

Yet, isn’t it ironic? This gift of a dandelion? That same dandelion we try hard to eradicate from our lush, green lawns, turns out to be one of our most cherished memories!

Ah…Life is filled with little moments…

In our busy, frenzy filled world we live in, it is easy to miss those moments…how about you, are you present, are you open, do you see them, do you honor them?