A Saturday Night Out

To Everyone at the Friendship Circle,

It was our pleasure to come as a complete family to the special Saturday night mitzvah opportunity. When my kids told me about it, I figured, “Sounds a lot better than staying home watching TV or going to a mediocre movie for $50.”

It was especially meaningful, since we would be enabling parents who have children with special needs to drop off all their children for a night of fun and enjoy their own night out – maybe for the first time in many years.

I have to tell you the truth: driving down Route 10 with my wife and four kids in the van, I was somewhat unsure and a little nervous. I had a lot of questions. Who was I going to watch? If I go in the pool with the child, would he be responsive or difficult to work with? Will I be able to communicate clearly with him?

Although I have attended a couple Friendship Circle activities before, such as the Chanukah events, this was very different. I had never had the personal opportunity to “work” with one of the Friendship youngsters.

I walked into the UJC lobby with these thoughts in my head, but before I had even a chance to ask you one of them, I had a name tag on my shirt (you very cleverly had these ready in advance) and I was being introduced to “Joseph.”

Joseph was a smiling, very pleasant eleven-year-old with a recent Mohawk haircut who maneuvered very ably in his wheelchair. I never really asked him (or anyone else) about his disability, in part because he made me feel so comfortable just talking to him about baseball, football, my children, his school, and his interests. It didn’t take long to discover he LOVES swimming. So I knew I’d have to confront those concerns about going into the pool.

Frankly I didn’t know how I’d manage trying to get him ready to swim. But, Joseph was all prepared. He had his swim trunks on beneath his sweats. He knew and explained in precise detail how to get him into the pool and out. But, it was especially comforting to me to see the professional staff and the volunteers of Friendship Circle quickly respond to any situation they were called for. No one interfered, but if needed, Justin and others were always willing and ready to provide assistance and guidance.

Joseph and I were among the first in the pool, but we were the last out because we had such a great time together. He showed me how he could swim in the deep end. He challenged me to beat him in a “hold your breath under water” contest. He floated on his back for at least five minutes, much longer than I could. And, I had the pleasure of teaching him a trick. Joseph told me that his father loves clams and they go to the beach. So, I showed Joseph how to “cup” his hands and squirt water out like a clam next time he is with his Dad. Joseph loved the trick because he learned how to squirt water into my face, too!

Seeing my entire family, including nine-year old Nathaniel, interact with each of their friends was very special to me. Your organization is not just well organized and professionally run, but it has the atmosphere of FRIENDSHIP, just like it is called. I felt like I was with my extended family and relatives. What a great night! A real mitzvah night, just as advertised. I hope my participation helped the parents and Joseph as much as it was a benefit for me.

With heartfelt gratitude,
Jeff Haar