Singing and music are 2 of my favorite outlets for my Tourette’s Syndrome.  I don’t know if there is really thing that it has to do with my Tourette’s, but I have found it is a good way to calm down, and relax.  My mom teases me that when I was a baby, they would turn on “Enya” to make me go to sleep.  I could be screaming my head off, and as soon as they would turn on”Enya”  I would stop, BAM! I would go to sleep, if they could wrap be up in a blanket tight enough too. It was one of only a couple of CD’s they owned at the time.  I can say I have a good variety of music I love.  Especially Classic Rock, or stuff like that but I also like to listen to Classical music too,   just for the break and relaxation, and just for the record Enya isn’t my favorite anymore. 

I felt really honored last year in 8th grade to be apart of the Honors Choir at Milford Junior High School, with Mrs. Carpenter.  This year when I tried out for Honor’s choir I was certain I wasn’t going to make it since I was a lowly Freshman, but I did, and the fact that my voice is still a tenor was to my advantage,  everyone else is Bass this year.  (HA)  I made it as part of the District 14 Honors choir. It was great to work with Mrs. Blake, and also to spend a very long and productive day, with the rest of the district practicing amazingly difficult songs, and working with incredibly talented conductors, and accompanist.  (And it is just because I decided to write about this that I can’t find my CD, or remember the names of them.  I will have to add that later.)

One of the reasons that I love music is because I don’t tic as much when I am singing.  I tic before, and I tic afterwards, an maybe a little one in the middle but it is like I switch to a different mode and it doesn’t bug me, and I don’t notice my tics when I sing.  It is great!  I am currently singing at Milford High School Choir, but I also sing in the Youth Choir for my stake at church.  It is wonderful to be a part of a group, that can take control of a room just by the power of their voices.

Speaking of the power of one voice, I saw a cool story about a guy named, David Pittman.  He is a contestant on Americal Idol.  You can see David Pittmann Audition by clicking on his name.  I can totally relate to his story.  He is 27 years old and from Mountain Home Arkanas.  He has Tourette’s Syndrome.  He talks about it in his video about before the audition.  The great thing to look forward to is that most kids like me will out grow most of their tics as they get older.  The tics don’t go away completely but they certainly aren’t as bad as they are when you are in the heat of adolescences.  David handled things so well, in his audition when, Neil Patrick Harris, one of the judges, noticed the symptoms right away, and addressed it.  It will be really interesting to watch how things unfold.  I think I will keep up on what happens,  and I have never been and American Idol fan before.  But this guy, David Pittman really does have a good voice.  And he is right!

 It feels good to go in the ZONE!  Music to my soul for sure!

On a closing note,  Orders are coming in for baskets, and I am excited that we have almost reach 1/2 way for my goal to raise $1000 towards my familys travel expenses to go with me to Virginia for a week.  I really appreciate everyone’s generosity.  I know there are a few who want to remain nameless and anonomious so I will do that.  Thank you so much for helping me “Pay it forward” and continue to work towards making my dream come true and talking about Tourettes Syndrome.  Thanks y’all!  You can order still from the website here,  for your Valentines sweetheart.  FAO Baskets is donating 100% of their profits to help me go to Virginia.  Any order helps.