The Day I Noticed His Singing Voice Had Gone From “kid” to “adult”

[posted by Luke’s Dad]

At Luke’s “Senior Recital” in high school, he sang several songs including Stars from Les Miz.  But the song that really stuck out in my mind that night was Music of the Night from Phantom.  I had been listening to Luke sing since he was a few years old.  We would sing together in the car all the time, but one of my earliest memories of him “performing” was when we had bought him a Fisher Price microphone and speaker for his birthday, complete with mic stand.  He performed for a bunch of people that we had over the house.  He stood there at his mic in the living room with his toy guitar slung around his shoulder, and sang every song he knew.  He was four.

Of course, I was at every one of his shows and performances throughout grammar school and high school.  And I was always impressed with his beautiful voice.  But at some point in high school his voice started to change from being a kid’s voice into a man’s voice.  I noticed it at the Senior Recital.

I remember that moment so vividly.  I remember being completely blown away listening to him sing.  I am not going to describe it.  You can listen for yourself.  I know that those of you who knew him after high school will know that this may not be as good as his voice eventually became, but this is when I think it started.  At least, this is when I first heard it happening.  Honestly, it took my breath away.  I told him exactly that after the performance.

 

Thumbs Up!

[posted by Luke’s dad]

Both my boys have always been partial to using the “thumbs up” expression, especially in photos. If you knew Luke, then you were very used to seeing him do it. Luke used it all the time since he was very little. He even gave the thumbs up on his Great Adventure season pass photos, and 1st Communion photos! And, of course, there was those beautiful crooked thumbs :).

In this post are just a small sample of some of the pictures that we have of him giving the thumbs up. If you have any others, we would love to see them.

9 years old Uncle Dave's Graduation High School Graduation July 4th 2017 1st Communion 3 years old 4 years old Great Adventure Season Pass 2 Great Adventure Season Pass 1

The Mayor of St Joseph’s

[posted by Luke’s dad]

I have been reading the other wonderful stories written by some of Luke’s friends. I cannot put into words how thankful I am. Those stories have reminded me about something I thought I had forgotten. Many of the stories relate how in high school Luke would just walk up to someone he has never met before and make a friend. Well, you should all know, that was not something new that Luke learned. He had been doing that since he was very young. Luke was the only new student in his 1st grade class at St Joseph School in Millbrook NY. Every other student came directly from the kindergarten (Luke had gone to a different kindergarten). So they all new each other already. They all knew the school, the teachers, the principal, etc. There was only one spot left for 1st grade that year, and we got it. In October, when Julie and I went to school for parent/teacher meetings, we met the principal of the school at the time. Her name was Mrs. Cardella. When we introduced ourselves, she said, “Oh, you are the Mayor’s parents.” We were, of course, appropriately confused. So she explained to us, “We have all dubbed Luke ‘The Mayor of St Joseph’s’. He greets everyone he sees in the hallways. He knows the name of every teacher and administrator in the school already, and just walks around all day shaking hands, and saying ‘Good morning’, and ‘Have a nice day’ to everyone he sees.”