In the year 2000, the Beatles released the Beatles One album. At that time Brandon really was very silent. He rarely tried to speak a word, rarely would answer a question and instead would try to sign, or just ignore you so he wouldn't have to work so hard to get you to understand what he was saying. He used a communication device but when we are running errands, in the car or on the run he doesnt use the device. I had noticed that he just was giving up on trying to talk. At the time Brandon participated in music therapy. He was responding to music. He would try to sing a little, but the music therapist was using kids songs and that didn't seem to connect for Brandon. One night I bought the Beatles One cd. We were driving and doing our normal errands, I put the CD in and started singing with all those great songs. I loved the Beatles when I was young and knew all the songs. To my surprise, Brandon started singing as well. So I made a game out it and we took turns singing different parts in the songs. I thought - this is working and I bought another cd. Brandon couldn't get enough. When it was the Beatles he was non-stop noisy and happy. That was 14 years ago, and 100's of cds, downloads, YouTube videos, dvds, games, trivia, meeting with Ringo Starr, two Paul McCartney concerts and a Las Vegas Beatles Festival ago. Brandon has still not tired of the Beatles. He feels like the Beatles are like the car is to his friend at school. It is what we use to motivate him for a job well done. When Brandon gets in the car he immediately changes the radio to his Ipod Beatles music. I finally became wise and gathered all those cd's and put the music in the ipod. We had cd's everywhere and it was a mess. Brandon has spread his wings some and also likes the Who, the Beach Boys and Jimmy Buffet and several other bands of this ear. He can find all kinds of obscure songs on YouTube and they are usually related to something about the Beatles. He will tell me about a movie and I will find out that one of the Beatles sang a song in the movie. Like his friend with the car he does not miss anything having to do with the Beatles. We can be walking in a store and there is music playing lightly in the background and he will smile and start singing. I have to stop and pay attention and then realize it is one of the Beatles songs playing in the background. Today, Brandon is always talking, singing and making noise and the Beatles music woke him up and allowed him to feel safe enough to begin to sing. I have learned that in his head it is about the Beatles. He also did a video about the Beatles at a camp he attended and made 2nd place in a film competition. When he was in the hospital for H1N1 the only channel really available to him in ICU was the Disney Channel. He would strongly object if I changed it. Feeling bad for him I left the TV on Disney almost non-stop and he developed a liking to Selena Gomez. His like of Selena is for her to sing a tribute to the Beatles.
This summer, one of Brandon's therapist at school went to Liverpool England and to the Cavern Club. She found a guy who had an address for Paul McCartney. It has taken me six months to help Brandon write a letter. So a few weeks ago Brandon wrote a letter to Paul McCartney. I asked him what he would want to say to Paul McCartney. He stopped and thought and said "I just want to tell him thank you". I said what do you want to thank him for, and he said "for making me happy". Wow. Still makes my heard sink knowing the history of Brandon and the Beatles. Of course he added that he would like to meet him. So I added my own mom letter explaining and we sent it off.
Brandon just turned 21 and when he was 17 we developed a PATH for the future for him. Part of the plan is when Brandon has completed school, we will take a trip to England where he can see all the Beatles places (abbey road, Liverpool, the cavern club, etc). Brandon completes school in May 2015. But he has not been on a plane since 911. So a rehearsal trip is needed before a 10 hours plane flight. This worked out well because this is the big year of the Beatles with the 50th anniversary of the Beatles landing in New York City and their first gig playing at the Ed Sullivan Theater. I bought Brandon, me and friend Kate tickets to the Beatles Fest in New York City on the anniversary of the Beatles arrival. For the biggest Beatles fan ever, this is the ultimate Beatles event of his lifetime. He is soo excited. But all I can think is "it makes Brandon happy".
Next year - the International Beatles Fest - here we come. We will update after our adventure.
All you need is Love.
Leah
Brandon's Beatles Video
Brandon and Ringo
