The Music Inside Me is Never Silent
I wear my heart and emotions on my sleeve and always have. Hopefully my long posts haven't been getting tiring and repetitive over the last three weeks.
Last night was the final installment of the Joe Jo mega-event gone-away parties. All of us who have participated are physically and emotionally tired and broken and it will be nice to finally calm down and pick back up where we left off with a slightly used and damaged soul. I'm really happy that Joe's mom, Dee, and his sister, Carissa, were able to attend the event. Joe talked a lot about his friends but it's another thing to see them all coming together to support one another and the family during a time like this. I won't hazard a guess at how many people showed up, but the room (which is pretty huge) was pretty packed. The last 5 days we've celebrated the life and memory of someone who was clearly loved by so many people and his legacy will live on with his family and friends for eternity.
The party last night was special in many ways. It was put together by JT, Jason, Howard, and the owners of R-Place. They brought in a bartender (Pickles!) and a karaoke host (KJ) to help us out. There were two additional photo collages put together as well as a memory book to write stories about Joe in. They also brought in some snack trays for people to nibble on throughout the event.
Throughout the night people went up to sing songs that reminded us of Joe Jo. "One Week" which I'm pretty sure only Joe could sing fast enough to keep up (we tried as a group and failed miserably). Patrick sang "Sweet Transvestite" from Rocky Horror. George and Adam sang Cher's "Dark Lady" with Patrick hijacking the mic for awhile as he proclaimed "That's my song, bitches!". Jason singing Tina Turner's "Proud Mary" with Brittin, Jesse, Patrick and myself as backup dancers. But the one song I will remember last night the most was "Seasons of Love". Sung by what we later nicknamed ourselves as "R-Place Tabernacle Choir" (which was most of the people who also tried singing "One Week" later in the night). It's karaoke and there is no expectations that any person will do great, or a group can actually carry a tune. But when the music started and our mouths opened it was one of the most beautiful sounds I've heard. We sang with purpose and to give tribute to our Joe and in support of all his friends and family. I also got to sing next to my girl Joey who I just married to her now husband a few weeks ago which made it extra special (love you Joey). "Seasons of Love" is from the movie Rent which deals with a lot of issues that strike sadly close to home. I had a chance to see Rent at the Paramount with Joe last summer. The songs from that musical will always carry a little extra special meaning for me, but especially "Seasons of Love" because it was so incredibly done at his gone-away party.
Late in to the night our friend Jeremy was able to play the draft of the video he's making to memorialize Joe. Part of the video is a photo collage focusing on Joe, Joe with friends, and Joe's life. I've seen so many pictures of Joe from putting together the collage that the beginning didn't hit me too hard. But a couple pictures of him and I would flash on the screen and I realized I needed to sit down for the rest of the film. I sat next to his mom and put my arm around her while we continued to watch. There is video of Joe singing at karaoke, and more photos, and me being pulled on to stage after Joe passed away. Near the end of the video is something I hadn't realized was being recorded at the time and I'm really glad it was. Video of some of Joe's friends spreading his ashes on the water last Saturday at his parent's house and saying our goodbyes in our own way. Needless to say what composure I try and keep in public was wiped out completely. The last of the video is a mosaic that as it zooms out reveals the collage that I made of him. I realized as the video was going on that not only was my arm around Joe's mom and hers around me, but I was surrounded by friends who all had their hand on my shoulder. I don't know, it was a pretty intense spiritual moment, quite possibly the most intense I've ever had. When the video ended there wasn't a dry eye in the room. Everyone was turning to each other and hugging and expressing their love for each other.
Near the end of the night Joe's mom was presented the memory book and flowers (and she gets the two collages JT made as well). I was given flowers and the candle that we had lit throughout the whole night. The vodka Redbull (his favorite drink) that someone purchased for him that sat near the candle and photos was sipped on by all the remaining friends in the room (Joe believed in "No drink left behind" - I almost wore my pin last night that says the same). and then we departed.
The night up to that point was perfect. Other than some periphery drama that was completely unacceptable and piss poor timing, the whole night was great. Maybe not so much for Phil, who was being sick all over the place after I had him do a shot and a half of Jager at 5 Point (after drinking quite a bit of Joe's drink as well as half of the drink I had just prior to leaving R-Place). Sorry Phil!
I can't thank enough Jason, JT, Howard, KJ, Pickles, and the owners of R-Place for putting this all together and making it happen. Also to Jeremy for making such a great video to remember Joe by forever. Plus, all my friends who have been so spectacular the last couple weeks - I love you all.
I have not laughed so hard, or cried so intensely since Joe passed away and today I felt last night's emotions echo throughout my day. I sang or hummed "Seasons of Love" and "One Week" all day long. The music inside me is never silent, and neither will be Joe.
Last night was the final installment of the Joe Jo mega-event gone-away parties. All of us who have participated are physically and emotionally tired and broken and it will be nice to finally calm down and pick back up where we left off with a slightly used and damaged soul. I'm really happy that Joe's mom, Dee, and his sister, Carissa, were able to attend the event. Joe talked a lot about his friends but it's another thing to see them all coming together to support one another and the family during a time like this. I won't hazard a guess at how many people showed up, but the room (which is pretty huge) was pretty packed. The last 5 days we've celebrated the life and memory of someone who was clearly loved by so many people and his legacy will live on with his family and friends for eternity.
The party last night was special in many ways. It was put together by JT, Jason, Howard, and the owners of R-Place. They brought in a bartender (Pickles!) and a karaoke host (KJ) to help us out. There were two additional photo collages put together as well as a memory book to write stories about Joe in. They also brought in some snack trays for people to nibble on throughout the event.
Throughout the night people went up to sing songs that reminded us of Joe Jo. "One Week" which I'm pretty sure only Joe could sing fast enough to keep up (we tried as a group and failed miserably). Patrick sang "Sweet Transvestite" from Rocky Horror. George and Adam sang Cher's "Dark Lady" with Patrick hijacking the mic for awhile as he proclaimed "That's my song, bitches!". Jason singing Tina Turner's "Proud Mary" with Brittin, Jesse, Patrick and myself as backup dancers. But the one song I will remember last night the most was "Seasons of Love". Sung by what we later nicknamed ourselves as "R-Place Tabernacle Choir" (which was most of the people who also tried singing "One Week" later in the night). It's karaoke and there is no expectations that any person will do great, or a group can actually carry a tune. But when the music started and our mouths opened it was one of the most beautiful sounds I've heard. We sang with purpose and to give tribute to our Joe and in support of all his friends and family. I also got to sing next to my girl Joey who I just married to her now husband a few weeks ago which made it extra special (love you Joey). "Seasons of Love" is from the movie Rent which deals with a lot of issues that strike sadly close to home. I had a chance to see Rent at the Paramount with Joe last summer. The songs from that musical will always carry a little extra special meaning for me, but especially "Seasons of Love" because it was so incredibly done at his gone-away party.
Click to viewLate in to the night our friend Jeremy was able to play the draft of the video he's making to memorialize Joe. Part of the video is a photo collage focusing on Joe, Joe with friends, and Joe's life. I've seen so many pictures of Joe from putting together the collage that the beginning didn't hit me too hard. But a couple pictures of him and I would flash on the screen and I realized I needed to sit down for the rest of the film. I sat next to his mom and put my arm around her while we continued to watch. There is video of Joe singing at karaoke, and more photos, and me being pulled on to stage after Joe passed away. Near the end of the video is something I hadn't realized was being recorded at the time and I'm really glad it was. Video of some of Joe's friends spreading his ashes on the water last Saturday at his parent's house and saying our goodbyes in our own way. Needless to say what composure I try and keep in public was wiped out completely. The last of the video is a mosaic that as it zooms out reveals the collage that I made of him. I realized as the video was going on that not only was my arm around Joe's mom and hers around me, but I was surrounded by friends who all had their hand on my shoulder. I don't know, it was a pretty intense spiritual moment, quite possibly the most intense I've ever had. When the video ended there wasn't a dry eye in the room. Everyone was turning to each other and hugging and expressing their love for each other.
Near the end of the night Joe's mom was presented the memory book and flowers (and she gets the two collages JT made as well). I was given flowers and the candle that we had lit throughout the whole night. The vodka Redbull (his favorite drink) that someone purchased for him that sat near the candle and photos was sipped on by all the remaining friends in the room (Joe believed in "No drink left behind" - I almost wore my pin last night that says the same). and then we departed.
The night up to that point was perfect. Other than some periphery drama that was completely unacceptable and piss poor timing, the whole night was great. Maybe not so much for Phil, who was being sick all over the place after I had him do a shot and a half of Jager at 5 Point (after drinking quite a bit of Joe's drink as well as half of the drink I had just prior to leaving R-Place). Sorry Phil!
I can't thank enough Jason, JT, Howard, KJ, Pickles, and the owners of R-Place for putting this all together and making it happen. Also to Jeremy for making such a great video to remember Joe by forever. Plus, all my friends who have been so spectacular the last couple weeks - I love you all.
I have not laughed so hard, or cried so intensely since Joe passed away and today I felt last night's emotions echo throughout my day. I sang or hummed "Seasons of Love" and "One Week" all day long. The music inside me is never silent, and neither will be Joe.