A terrible thing has happened in Florida. A gunman went into a gay nightclub in Orlando. During Pride Month. And killed 49 people.

Guns are a problem. A big one. He had a military assault weapon. No one needs that kind of personal gun ownership. Too many stories like this keep happening. And it is so so scary.

We woke up to the story on Sunday morning. And by Sunday night we had to discuss it with the boys. Brendan was eager to see the Tony Awards which would pay some tribute to the lives lost even if the names were still unknown. Boston’s Pride Parade was the day before.

Their questions were the same as our. How could someone do this?, why would someone do this?, could it happen here?, what can we do?

What we did was go to the Boston memorial the next day. We waited (mostly patiently) for over an hour to sign the remembrance book. Brendan simply wrote, “Love who you want.”

Fear is a terrible thing. We do our best to not let it dictate what we do and don’t do. But we won’t let it dictate who we are and who we love.

Our prayer is that violence and hatred end. And love wins.

Lin-Manuel Miranda’s poem at the Tony Awards that night:

“My wife’s the reason anything gets done
She nudges me towards promise by degrees
She is a perfect symphony of one,
Our son is her most beautiful reprise
We chase the melodies that seem to find us
Until they’re finished songs and start to play
When senseless acts of tragedy remind us
That nothing here is promised, not one day
This show is proof that history remembers
We live through times when hate and fear seem stronger
We rise and fall and light from dying embers
Remembrances that hope and love lasts long
And love is love is love is love is love is love is love is love is love
Cannot be killed or swept aside,
I sing Vanessa’s symphony, Eliza tells her story
Now fill the world with music love and pride”

June is here and not only is school ending (though not until the 24th!), all the kids’ activities are ending too.

This session Aidan participated in two art classes. In one class he got to paint lots of interesting objects: a table, sneakers he designed, a T shirt and other fun things. The other art class allowed him to be creative too. It was fun to see his enthusiasm for something a little outside his comfort zone.

Aidan also continued with piano lessons. This session he worked on Heart and Soul- his choice! He’s getting really good at reading sheet music and has been tinkering away at songs in his free time.

Brendan;s session was all about drama- two shows. He continued with the older kids who have been working on Legally Blonde. He even invited a BCT friend to be part of the show when another actor was needed! He was doubly surprised when other BCT friends came to the show and surprised him with an early birthday celebration!

For the younger kids this session was All Star Review- favorites from part shows and a couple of new songs including a couple songs from Hamilton. The kids performed Room Where it Happened and Brendan got to be Aaron Burr!