SPECIAL FEATURE

LISA MATTO

The Up Side of Downs

LISA PALERMO MATTO CELEBRATES HER DAUGHTER IN NEW BOOK

David Tyler

When you enter the Matto home in Fayetteville, Marlee, now 20, is at times gregarious and at others a little you know instantly you’re in the home of a loving bashful. She is self-conscious about the way her eyes look, family. Photo collages adorn the walls – pictures but happy to share a smile. She likes to play jokes and has a crush of smiling children on beaches, posing with parents, sharing on the actor Chris Pine (“I’m obsessed with him.”) She’s looking moments of joy with one another. forward to going to Inclusive U at Syracuse University in the fall,

For Lisa Palermo Matto, telling the story of her daughter, but at the same time she has apprehensions about leaving home. Marlee, is about sharing her sense of wonder and joy with a In many ways, she’s a lot like other young women her age. broader audience. Marlee has a wide smile, a big heart and “Our kids want to be independent,” Lisa said. “They have dreams mischievous sense of humor. She also has Down Syndrome. and hopes and friends and school – just like everybody else.”

In February, Lisa published her first The book chronicles Marlee’s book, The Up Side of Downs, available adventures, and at times misadventures, on amazon.com, in which she tells ZOOM SESSION in a way that all parents can appreciate. Marlee’s story through a series of hilarious and heartfelt anecdotes that with Lisa Palermo Matto It shares the story of family vacations with Lisa, her husband Dave, capture exactly what the title suggests. “Marlee would get into these situations that were really funny Hosted by Maxwell Memorial Library and Marlee’s brother Casey, and of the landmark events that every child looks forward to: the school play, sometimes, and sometimes really in Camillus playing sports on a team, the prom. nerve-wracking,” Lisa said. When she would recount these stories to family and friends, they would often tell Lisa Palermo Matto will be featured in a Zoom session There was the time Marlee took off in a golf cart with a terrified and unsuspecting passenger in tow. her that she had to write it all down. to discuss her new book, Another time, she wandered from her Eventually, there were enough stories to compile into a book. The Up Side of Downs grandparents’ condo in Florida wearing only her birthday suit. Once at the zoo,

That process began about five years May 3, from 7 to 8 p.m. she picked up a little girl toddler and ago, but when the pandemic arrived, it gave Lisa the opportunity to really dig into finishing the book. She utilized For more information: maxwellmemoriallibrary.org took off with her “because she so cute and I want a sister.” It also tells the story of a girl with a the graphic talents of a neighbor, big heart, who makes friends easily Brooke Stratton, for the layout and and finds joy in bringing happiness illustrations that accompany each to others. story. Stratton, she said, was instrumental in helping her through And Lisa is quick to point out that their greater community had the publishing process on Amazon. a lot to do with Marlee’s successes, in particular, their neighbors,

“It came together,” she said, “so far beyond what I ever imagined the Donellas, who have been a part of Marlee’s life since a very how well received it would be.” early age.

Lisa is quick to point out that this is not a self-help book filled “What I hope people will take away from the book is to see the with parenting tips. Rather it is a celebration of Marlee and of the abilities – the abilities in her, but also the abilities in the people in community that has helped her thrive. the neighborhood that we have, and the community that we have,

“I wrote this book to chronicle Marlee,” she said. “But I think and the school district that we have,” she said. “People [should] what I found out when doing the readbacks was how much I grew. see what a difference that made.” And I think that is a hopeful observation for parents that have younger kids than we do.”

Continued on page 14

EXCERPT FROM

THE UP SIDE OF DOWNS

"Stealing the Show"

During the opening scene of the show, the improvisation began. It became apparent that Marlee wanted to be part of the dance number. Thinking back, I did recall a conversation where she asked if she could wear one of the pretty costumes. I didn’t pay attention because we had been sent a letter stating what should be worn. The one hundred or so “chorus” members were to wear jeans and a white tee shirt. The girls performing the dance number were dressed in ballet leotards with sparkly pink tutus. They assembled onto the stage and were waiting for their cue. As they began to glide across the floor, Marlee hopped down from riser.

Oh no, I thought.

She then inserted herself into their routine.

“Dear God,” I moaned.

She must have been watching them during rehearsals because she was actually pretty good. No one said a word, and no one removed her from the dance number. Beads of sweat began to build on my forehead.

But then I noticed something else. Whenever there was a singing part, whether group effort or soloist, a voice from beyond would belt out the words after the others finished. That voice belonged to Marlee. She would wait for the other kids to stop singing, and then sing the same line of the song. She would sing so loudly, everyone in attendance could hear. Every time this happened, I could hear laughter coming from the audience. At this point, I was praying for her to vomit, make faces, or faint. At least that would get her off the stage.

Throughout the night, her classmate in the wheelchair/covered wagon remained in the same spot on the stage. When the storyline involved the wagon, the main characters would gather around it. But for most of the show, he and the wheelchair sat quietly in one place. This was not overlooked by Marlee. Once again, she decided to shake things up. She hopped down from the risers, walked over to the wheelchair, and took hold of the handles. She was going to show everyone what a covered wagon was supposed to do. She pushed the wheelchair from one side of the stage to the other, waving at the crowd. She parked the wheelchair front and center, right in the middle of the show. While the teachers looked panicked, I started to laugh. I loved that she did that. I loved that she wanted to show off her friend to the entire audience. It was an innate desire to do something that most people would have ignored. Her classmate playing the role of the covered wagon would have remained a stationary character for the entire production if it had not been for her, Marlee saw it as an opportunity to give someone, who otherwise would have been overlooked, a chance to shine. Many of us try to live in the now. Marlee does it naturally. She always lives her life in the present moment. She does not worry about what other people think. She knows what she wants and why she wants it. She also knows how to compromise. She didn’t have the pretty costume, but she was going to join the dance number anyway. Many times, people view a child’s behavior as impulsive. What I have come to appreciate about Marlee is that her conduct often encompasses the needs of others as well as herself. Pushing her friend in the covered wagon was not about bringing attention to herself, but giving him the attention he deserved. Giving him his moment on that stage. It was more than just living in the now, it was an act of pure goodness A magical scene, unrehearsed, and from the heart. My beautiful girl delivered this to the audience effortlessly.

A moment of grace. The other parents loved it. Her final moments on stage would lead to a crescendo of laughter and confirm that she really did steal the show. The music teacher was giving shout outs to the students who had done vocal or instrumental solos. After announcing their names, a voice could be heard from the seat risers. “Hey! What about me?”

You guessed it. It was Marlee. The teacher, not missing a beat responded.

“Thank you too, Marlee Matto!”

It brought down the house. SWM