Ok I can finally look at these photos without busting into an ugly cry…maybe. Danny is a very dear friend of mine. He was our church organist and pianist for 6 years. I adore him to pieces and he adores his grandmother, Mimi to pieces so naturally I adore her as well. Danny recently was accepted into the Manhattan School of Music with a scholarship because he’s absolutely amazing. I know this is so good for him but selfishly I wanted him to stay. What other organist will bust out the TCU fight song on the organ in the middle of church? Before Danny left, a shoot with his Mimi was a must along with some headshot to get him ready for the Big Apple.
Not only is he one of the most beautiful people I know both inside and out, he is absolutely hysterical, and brings so much joy to anyone and everyone he encounters. The number of group texts we have absolutely lost it on is impossible to count.
I was presiding during his last Sunday and I was a wreck. I’m talking my husband had to read the scripture because I was ugly crying. Note to the church: I’m not emotionally stable on days where friends are moving away. During his last Sunday he shared a beautiful poem he wrote and there wasn’t enough tissue in the church to contain the tears.
Here it is:
They say here’s the church and there is the steeple, and look on inside and find all the people,
But buildings and bricks and body and brain, are sure not the things that long do remain.
You see, there’s a magic that people possess, the people with more and the people with less.
A magic of wands and wizards and doves? No, my friend, it’s the magic of love.
But not every person is some great magician. They’re mean and they’re rude with Judgmental positions.
What should be a world with such great open arms, is a place that punishes, strangles, and harms.
And yet I have heard that somewhere out there, is a wee tiny place that tries to play fair.
I know not the name, I hope you don’t mind it, but open your heart, and surely you’ll find it.
The people there come in all shapes and all sizes, all sorts of colors and names and weird guises.
They care not one bit if you’re brown, black, or blue. They only will care if you’re kind and you’re true.
For when the sun sets, and we climb in our beds, and God starts to search through our hearts and our heads,
He will not be grading like some sort of teacher, or judging and scolding like some angry preacher.
He cares what we’ve done through the course of our day, and whether or not we have paved the way;
paved the way so that people might smile, giggle and laugh and rest for a while.
You see here on earth we should love all our neighbors, help them and hug them and do them small favors,
give from our hearts with not one second thought, not for the glory but just for we ought.
Now that brings us back to this magical place, where it matters not where you’re from nor your race.
Indeed it’s a church with a soaring tall steeple, and yes there you’ll find such a great lot of people.
But something is different, there’s a little bit more, a something you feel when you walk through the door,
a hug and a smile all wrapped up in one, that feeling you get when you stand in the sun.
This place, it has taught me that blood’s naught to do, with making a family of me, him, and you.
It’s all about friendship and love that is blind, and when someone’s weird, you simply don’t mind.
Now I’ve seen lots of things and been lots of places, and met so many a dozen of faces,
but I stand here right now and I see O! so clear, that no greater people exist than right here.
So travel the world and look if you must, to find such a place that is so good and just,
but far as you go and long as you search, you never will find one as good as this church.
– Danny Zelibor
Danny and Mimi, I don’t think I’ve ever laughed so hard during a session. Good grief, your gene pool is outta control. Danny, I can’t wait to hug your neck in NYC this month. We won’t even need Suri to help us find each other, we can find each other by our loud laughs. I guess I have to say I’m happy for you but Sweet Moses, I miss you!
Love you dearly! XOXO
