PHANTOM OF THE OPERANT

We visited Universal Studios in 1988, a wonderful experience! Out of a gathering of 350 people, our son Leif, then almost 10, was chosen to demonstrate the special effects of how Elliot rode his bicycle through the sky with E.T. So there was Leif on the bike on stage, but on the screens above there was Leif riding with E.T. through the sky.

As we walked through the grounds, we watched a man accurately and convincingly dressed up as the Phantom of the Opera, slinking around scaring people. When he sneaked up for our 2 1/2-year-old son Sam's reaction, Sam casually reached out and touched the Phantom's grotesque teeth! A few minutes later, I turned to see the Phantom of the Opera down on his knee and Sam walking up to hug him. In front of a gathering crowd of people, there were monster and child in loving embrace.

Perhaps more than just I walked on that day wondering why the whole world can't be like that.


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