I am sure this song has special meaning for you, Connie. It always makes me cry.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gJAKmWAIKcY

I have been watching this thread all day. The more I read , the more I believe Connie was too kind in setting the title. It should say "a terribly rotten person was nasty tonight." That's probably the nicest I could say about the person involved. To Connie - a special reward awaits you and your husband, as well as Patrick. As you can tell there are many responders who love your family. We have your back in more ways than one.

I am so sorry for you to have been treated so rudely.

Cannot imagine what this imbecile was thinking speaking to you
like that.

He is just a bully and an ignorant one at that.

When I read that, I thought how grand that her son has this little window of time without mommy and daddy right there, but still he was safe. He's a grown man, a music lover. Why can't he have some sort of alone time? I think his folks are exceptional human beings and so is he!

Sad to hear this Connie. I happen to think you are such a wonderful person and a fabulous mother. Don't ever let anyone make you feel any less than fabulous!

A performer's perspective...
 

I would like to share with you, I just registered on the page and your story was the first one I read and it definitely struck a cord with me. I am also in my late 30's (39) and actually am technically disabled as well. I have seizures, so not as obvious as a wheelchair - but still.
Another thing, ironically, I am a performer. I was in a small production here in the villages a few months ago "Montana: No Fracking Way!" just as a chorus member, and just got cast in a new production "Man of La Mancha". Anyone who comes to see a performer, that performer appreciates, even needs in their heart, and to see a reaction from the audience is their "bread, butter, and the whole sandwich". The performer gets more excited and into the show when the audience reacts well that night - laughing at the right times, clapping at the right times. There have been lots of times when you compare one night to the other and say this one is a "bad/dry audience". Every performer who ever saw your son clapping and getting into the performance would have gone up to this guy and asked him to leave!! Demanded it!! It would be one less in the audience, but if their is someone ruining the event for others, its worth it!

I do hope you did not have to sit far away from your son. Sharing the experience together is half the fun!! Talking about how one guy was funny, one girl is wearing a weird dress, things that make you laugh!

Big hugs! From every performer you have seen and will see!!:bigbow:

Let it roll right off your shoulders and pay no attention. Not worth getting upset over.

That man needs to be slapped with a Rudeler!!!

Welcome to TOTV. What a nice start to your stay on here.

That's how you see it, and that's fine. I was just providing the OP with a possible explanation why this man may have felt inclined to make any comment to her. I really don't know what was in the heart of the man. Maybe instead of attacking the man with snarky insults, posters should recommend an appropriate response such as "oh, why do you think it is rude of me, sir?" Then if he tells her he thought it was unsafe to leave a vulnerable handicapped person alone in such a crowded venue, she could have responded appropriately. I'm not defending this guy. I just don't know what was in his heart. We all have said things that didn't come out like we meant, and maybe this was the case here. We all have witnessed behaviors or circumstances that we initially thought was one thing, and then learned it was completely different from our initial perception. A man spanking a child, for instance. But maybe the child just ran across a busy street and the man, his father, was so terrified all he could do was spank him out of fear for his safety and love for him. At first, it looks like an angry man beating his kid; later, with all the facts, it looks like a father terrified for his child's safety and trying to make sure it never happens again.

Please don't let the rudeness of one person hurt you. Your son has every right to enjoy the entertainment and I sincerely hope that you never encounter this again. America's Friendliest Home Town is sorry for your encounter.

I was going to yell at you but I reread it twice and I get what you are saying.

I know Connie and her family. I understand as much as a person who is not living her life day to day can understand. I honor her and love her and her equally devoted husband for showing us what unconditional love is.

I know first hand the mistakes that a parent of a handicapped child can make. Always walking between the lines of too much and too little help and protection and trying to get it right so your child feels some level of freedom to feel just like other people.

I have had well meaning people offer all kinds of suggestions to do something we tried and it didn't work years ago. Most of us with normal children struggle to do the right thing and usually get it right but not always.

At the very least. It was NONE of his business and Patrick was safe with hundreds of eyes who saw him nightly and would never allow harm to come to him.

It is just common sense, and common courtesy to hold your tongue sometimes. I don't know how that guy got to be a senior citizen without knowing someone first hand in a very similar situation and because of that developing a little.....respect? restraint?.

We are all peddling as fast as we can. We need to learn from each other.

I hear you. You are possibly coming from a different perspective than this man? with both of you having different life experiences. But I am concerned that so many resort to the "none of your business" position. I believe it is everyone's business to get involved with what may be abuse, neglect, alcoholism, bad behavior, depression, etc. I am not saying that the OP was doing anything wrong. In fact, it sounds like she is very caring and was not neglectful, etc. But we should all make it our business. I bristle at the frequent smart phone videos of bystanders videoing a victim getting abused or beaten by a bully or group of people, instead of calling 911 or trying to intervene in some way. How many people have committed suicide because people minded their own business instead of trying to help those people. Yet, when someone does interject, the first thing that others say is "mind your own business".

Let him walk a mile in your shoes and maybe he will feel differently. I am sorry you had this experience in the Villages.

Thank you ! Thank you! Thank you! It's great to get a performer's opinion!