Well, it was St. Patrick's Day, but the Tartan Army prevailed

It's been an exciting week for Delaney. We just celebrated her 17th birthday on Sunday with 14 wonderful young people, all of whom had a variety of special needs. We bowled and then had pizza and cake. Like so many other things in life, kids with special needs don't experience nearly as many birthday parties as their typical peers.

Bob and I enjoyed meeting the parents as they dropped of their children. Bob once remarked "It's a club you really don't want to belong to" but there's an unspoken understanding with other parents of special needs children. Knowledge of the sadness, and the loss of dreams, the overcoming of challenges and the incomparable sacrifices an entire family makes.

Always a meticulous planner, we've been informed her next birthday party will be at laser tag, and the one after that, Disneyland (shudder!)

The birthday party excitement was just a warm up for the big event Monday night, Martina McBride, featuring Scotsman gone country, Johnny Reid. Unfortunately, I was sick, so it was up to my rock-loving husband to escort Delaney. As it turns out, he loved the show, Johnny rocked the house, and Bob was particularly moved by the social content of Martina's songs.

We were fortunate enough to have been selected for the Calgary meet and greet with Johnny Reid. She called me on her Dad's cell to excited announce, "I got a hug and handshake from Johnny Reid!" As always happens when in the company of Delaney, you get sucked into her unabashed vortex of enthusiasm. "Oh my God, Johnny Reid, Johnny Reid."

Bob remarked on how kind and gentle Johnny was, with a smile almost as broad as Delaney's.

As they made their way back to their seats for Martina, Delaney just kept exclaiming, "Oh my God, I met Johnny Reid.

(In the photo, Country 105 morning show host, Doug Veronelly, Johnny Reid, and Delaney - part of her autism makes her really sensitive to the camera flash)

http://www.johnnyreid.com/