Over the weekend, my elementary school and parish hosted a performance by Tony Melendez, a man who has built his entire career and life around his toes. He was born without arms but learned how to play the guitar with his feet at a very young age. Since then, he is married, has several children and has mastered everything the hands can do with his feet, including writing and even driving.
Tony's entire performance was truly inspirational because he overcame so much persecution and so many hardships to become a successful individual. Not only did he sing and play the guitar, he told a lot of personal stories, mixed in with jokes and even interactions with the audience. He is able to tell a true underdog tale that is impossible for the audience to experience but that is inexplicably easy to relate to.
One of my favorite things about the evening was that I got to stay after the show and help strike the set and equipment that Tony and his band carry when they go on tour. They put up the equipment and take it down themselves, a lot like what we do at AHC! I got to talk to him and even saw him take apart pieces of equipment with just his feet. He is the kind of man who can make a person completely rethink what they want to do with themselves in life.
~Julie
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