David Noah and I were at the ribbon cutting ceremony this afternoon for his new school building today, and right after they cut the ribbon they started to play ‘Celebration’ over the loud speaker.

Not surprising perhaps, but important because it was my best friend’s favorite song when I was little, and every time it played on the radio she would always stop us from whatever we were doing and make us dance.

She died of Cystic Fibrosis when she was 6 and I was 7 years old, after many painful years of fighting, and today being the day Noah and I dropped our genetic kits off at the post office–hoping to get answers for our own genetic disorder–when Celebration came singing through the loud speakers I danced. I danced for Sam, I danced for today, I danced for all of the time I’ve spent in the hospital and somehow made it out, I danced for a better tomorrow.

“You’re embarrassing me Mom.”

Most parents were busy just looking for their children’s home room tomorrow. No one else was dancing, but that didn’t stop me.

“Let it go Noah.” I waved my can of coke in the air like it was a badge of pride.

“Let’s dance.”