We walked into Russo’s market last
weekend to be greeted by the sound of music. At first, we thought they just had
the volume turned up on their sound system, but then we saw there were live
performers set up, giving a holiday concert there, between the lemons and
poinsettias.
For the last song, they called up
their own, Gilly, who works in the deli, to sing “Time to Say Goodbye.” Here’s
the best recording of that performance I’ve found (Sunday, Dec. 17th,
2017):
The crowd stilled and drew near, stopped by the beauty and depth of feeling entrained in his voice, reverberating across the wooden rafters. Every soul in the room stopped, so touched. Sometimes you just walk into something or someone and you just know – this is special. Like the day you first met your spouse. Or opened your eyes to a new day in a new town. Chills, tears, goosebumps.
His story has now been covered by
local news, national news, TV, radio, and newspaper, and of course social
media.
Here’s the deal:
Last Friday, Guilherme (Gilly)
Assuncao was a deli guy. Originally from Brazil, just 23 years old, he moved to
Boston recently, having started as a dishwasher at Russo’s about six months
ago. Last Friday, the owners were preparing for a holiday concert the next day,
and were setting up the sound system. Gilly offered to help with the sound
check. They asked if he could sing. So stunned by his voice, they added him to
the bill for their holiday concert. The rest is now history.
What a difference a week can make.
He’s not just an amazing singer, but humble and kind. His dream is to go to
Berklee School of Music, and pursue a career in music. Someone has even started
a GoFundMe page:
Since hearing Gilly sing last weekend,
my mind has been spinning on overtime processing this.
First, it just feels like one of those
sudden, surprise, magical, miracles of the season, where anything can happen.
Second, on another level, this serves
as an inspiring reminder to look for, see and believe in the possibility within
each individual, and really see them. When we look at someone, do we see only
what is before us, who they are today, or do we have the vision to see what may
be within, and what they may become, if offered the right opportunities, and
the right platform or stage, literally and metaphorically? It’s only a little
jump, to quote the lyrics from Joan Osborne’s song:
What
if God was one of us
Just
a stranger on the busTrying to make his way home?
What if God is in each and every one of
us, every stranger on every bus?
When we say “Namaste,” or “the light
in me honors the light in you,” can we really imagine and see that light, both
within ourselves and in each other?
I’ll make a third even wilder leap.
Last Friday, who knew that Gilly, who
worked in the deli, might have the voice of an angel?
And who knew what the future would hold
for the tiny baby, born in a humble manger, on a night just like tonight, so many years
ago?
Merry Christmas!
And to all a good night!
Post-Script
One of the greatest books about
writing is by Brenda Ueland, titled If
You Want to Write. Published in 1938, it still rings just as true today. A
couple of quotes from Brenda:
“Everybody
is talented, original, and has something important to say.”
“For when you come to think of it, the
only way to love a person is not, as the stereotyped Christian notion is, to
coddle them and bring them soup when they are sick, but by listening to them
and seeing and believing in the god, in the poet, in them. For by doing this,
you keep the god and poet alive and make it flourish.”
May we see all the many miracles, gods
and poets, surrounding us everyday, if we only have eyes to see them!
And, yes, of course we had to get our picture
taken w/ Gilly. I feel fortunate that we even happened to walk in when we did to
hear him sing.
Songs
For The Season:
“Better Days,” by the Goo Goo Dolls.
https://youtu.be/nOp4NAq6EHI
“Don’t Tell Me You Don’t Like Christmas,”
by the Careless Sons.
https://youtu.be/yQpNe82_Ab4A post for the New Year, reflecting on 2017. Plus, links to the blogs and radio shows that chronicled this highly unusual period in our country’s history.
Mark
Your Calendar:
·
February
17, 2018: Poetry night at the Bull Run Inn Restaurant in Shirley, MA. Please be
sure to reserve your ticket, and e-mail the organizers if you’d like to read
your poetry. Again, it is not a slam, but instead a simple sharing of humanity.
“Words Change Everything.”
“Even more than bread, we now need poetry, in
a time when it seems that it is not needed at all.”
~Leopold Staff
Sometimes we
need both poetry & bread!
References
Ueland, Brenda. 1938. (The Estate of Brenda Ueland. 1987) If You Want to Write: A Book About Art, Independence and Spirit. Graywolf Press: Minneapolis, MN.
©
2017 Rosemary A. Schmidt
Rose
Schmidt is the author of “Go Forward, Support! The Rugby of Life” (Gainline
Press 2004). The views expressed herein are solely those of the author, and do
not reflect the views of any other agency or organization. Use of individual
quotes with proper citation and attribution, within the limits of fair use, is
permitted. If you would like to request permission to use or reprint any of the
content on the site, please contact me. Twitter: Rosebud@GainlineRS
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