Sam loves people and dreams of making friends. To make friends at six years old often requires talking about things that interest someone else. For many years Sam didn't talk and couldn't find the words that he was desperately searching for to express himself.

Sam has come a very long way and words.....well, he has more words and likes to talk to everyone whether they want to or not.....even if it is to his shadow. These words, that were elusive for so long, are also what can create such frustration for him now. People sometimes laugh at the things he says. His interests are not your ordinary or average interests of a soon to be seven year old. Kids seem to be the toughest audience because they lack the filter that prevents them from being cruel or mean. Then again, I have come in contact with many adults that seem to have not grown out of that stage either. Adults can be just as cruel and mean as a little child who knows no better.

So making friends is extremely, extremely tough. Sam loves to sing and dance. He has fantastic skills when it comes to playing the piano and guitar. He has no fear and will walk up and introduce himself to everyone. The problems begin just after the introduction most of the time. Sam often asks about their hair dryer, birthday, address or something else that takes them off guard. Quickly, the new potential friend gets a red flag that something might be up and a brush off occurs. We see this all the time.

New Years Eve was one of the best nights we have had in many years. Some wonderful and dear friends of ours (we'll call them the G's here) had a party and invited the entire family. This was not your ordinary, hey let's get a few families together and ring in the new year party (of course this can be a disaster when you have kids on the spectrum so you often avoid the situations all together). No, the G's are some of the most avid and outspoken champions of Sam that you could ever imagine. They love our entire family but have always gone way out of their way to embrace Sam. They continuously encouraged us to attend and were so kind in the process that we were delighted just as much as we were anxious. For those that know, saying these were equal feelings is a huge statement because anxiety is usually the overall winner hands down.

The boys counted down the hours to the G's Party and the time arrived to head out. Their home is gorgeous, expansive and on New Years Eve it was something from the movies. There were decorations throughout the home, music streaming from the professional DJ that had a sound system that could rival the coolest concert you have attended, beautiful people were everywhere, the fully stocked bar was bustling and the best foods were available on beautifully decorated tables throughout the home for everyone to enjoy. The kids.........kids were running and playing in absolute delight.

Right in the middle of all the fun and craziness of the party are the G's having the grandest time singing and dancing with all the kids on the dance floor. This is a home full of love, tenderness and acceptance. Our boys went upstairs for just a short time before devoting themselves to the dance floor. Sam moved from air guitar to the inflated guitars that were all over the dance floor for the kids to pick up and play with. The balloons, disco lights and party lights dancing across the ceiling, floors and walls would have sent Sam into convulsions just a year or two ago. On this night, New Years Eve, Sam was just an ordinary kid who couldn't contain his excitement. I am certain Sam danced with all 20 of the little girls that were there and had the best time with the line dance leader who was 12 years old. No words got in the way on this night, no one laughed at him, and he didn't have to explain his interest in hair dryers to anyone (even when I could here him yell out the brand, volts and wattage of the hair dryer the G's have). For a few hours, Sam was able to play with every other kid in the room and didn't feel isolated or frustrated because someone laughed at him. Music meant dancing, dancing meant letting loose, letting loose meant singing at the top of your lungs, and singing at the top of your lungs with the other 80 people in the room meant you didn't need to know the right words to use.

People say that music can mend a broken heart. Well, music can also be the bridge between the world of a child with autism and that of his "typical" peers........even if it was just for a few hours, Sam will forever have the memory of dancing with his 80 closest friends as he rang in 2008!

Happy New Year and let the music play on....