Today while walking for excerise, trying to get into shape for Elvis Week in August I was listening to my mp3 which has mostly Elvis music on it. At one point I was looking up thru some trees at the finally Spring is Here beautiful sky just then "Bridge Over Troubled Waters" came on and I was taken back to an Elvis Memory when I was also looking at the sky and I heard the words of this song. I worked for many years with an Elvis Tribute Artistand among my many enjoyable jobs was doing Sign Language to several of the songs one of which was Bridge. While doing a show at a Cancer Survivor Retreat we met a man and his wife, he had just discovered that he had cancer, before and after the program we chatted with them and they talked about the man's son Matt who had Downs Syndrome and was a big Elvis Fan. Months later they called my ETA friend, Robert Glass and asked if we could do a show for Matt's graduation party. Matt had attended a public high school and was graduating that Spring. We were more than happy to be Matt's surprise. Robert knew that Matt loved to sing too so he made sure to pack an extra microphone just for him to join in. Unfortunately the Father's cancer battle had weakened him and he was in the hospital only getting out long enough to celebrate and enjoy Matt's big day.

Matt was so surprised and excited and for a long time there in the driveway surrounded my family and friends were Matt in his full Cap and Gown and Robert in his Jumpsuit singing Elvis songs. Matt's Father had been wheeled out on the back deck and was surrounded by other loved ones for a more comfortable shaded veiw. After a while finally one of his grandparents convinced Matt it would be a little cooler if he took off his graduation outfit. Robert allowed Matt to help pick out the songs and to sing the lead on many of the songs while he just filled in and they both danced along. Everyone was having a great time enjoying the music but mostly loving Matt's never ending smile. Later in the evening Bridge Over Troubled Waters was chosen, I stepped up to add my Sign Language compliment to the song. As I listened and translated the words into a visual expression I looked up into the starry sky and began to realize the Bridges this family had crossed over with the help of those who loved them, it was overwhelming. First to discover that your child was born with Downs Syndrome and would have to struggle more than a child without it and not knowing how far he would be able to mature in his life. Also making the decision to send Matt to public school and altho there were adaptations made for his learning and the fact that his classmates loved and supported him, it couldn't have been easy. This family had also been thru a divorce and new family blendings and now the most recent bridge was the Father's cancer battle and I feared some other much more troubled waters were in the near future. I have to admit that I got teary eyed thinking of the weary and tired times, when they felt down and out and the pain they went thru and the friends that had shared their part and gave them a hand, and now it was Matt's time to shine and sail on. I have always loved this song but that night it came to life. When I met Matt's Father and StepMom and other Cancer Suvivors at this retreat little did I know that not only would this famiy touch my life but with in a few years I too would be attending their events as a Suvivor as well. Bill would you please play "Bridge Over Troubled Waters" for all those of us who have had to cross those bridges of cancer and other troubled waters and all of our family and friends who have helped us over those bridges and for all the Matt's in this world that show us we can sail on.

Keep Sailing Bill and Thank you,

Kathy G

Alabama