Thursday Bouquet #10

I'm not crying......you're crying.....

Jenny Johnson

Apr 20, 2023

Welcome to the Thursday Bouquet! We’re back this week with a Watch, a Listen and a Read.

Let’s get right to it….

Watch - Iam Tongi

As with most seasons of American Idol, one contestant has captured the hearts of viewers, mine included.

Iam Tongi auditioned for American Idol mere months after the death of his beloved father, a musician who inspired Iam’s musical endeavors. Iam wowed the judges, and became an instant viral sensation, with his song choice, delivery and beautiful singing voice.

Iam’s vulnerability and raw emotion during his audition endeared him to audiences, quickly racking up over 13 MILLION views on YouTube.

A warning before I share the video. This video might break your heart in half if you’ve ever cared for an ailing parent, or experienced the death of a parent. The first time I watched it, I cried so hard and long that my eyes were practically swollen shut the next morning. Three short months had passed since I lost my own musical father to a prolonged illness and the song struck me like a raw nerve.

It was a good, productive cry though. As much as it hurt, it was a much needed release. The words felt like they were written specifically about my experience, and my relationship, with my dad. It helped to realize that this pain, a pain that feels so personal, is actually quite universal.

Seeing the overwhelming response to Iam’s audition reinforces that feeling. So many people have connected with his gentle, heartbreaking rendition of “Monsters”, a song written by James Blunt about his own ailing father.

All of the qualities that made Iam’s audition feel special have continued to shine through in all of his performances. From the stellar duet with fellow contestant Oliver Steele, to his breathtaking rendition of “The Sound of Silence”, his authenticity never falters.

I would highly recommend watching his audition video…

Before you put your makeup on / after you’ve washed it off for the day
With A big box of tissues close by
When you have space to cry it out for a good ten minutes (at least)

Without further ado, I present to you: Iam Tongi!

If you loved that (and I know you did) here are more of his performances to enjoy

Listen - Finding Purpose for Your Pain

I was scrolling through TikTok the first time I saw Shirley Raines. A video popped up on my FYP of her— in her food truck— filling plastic grocery bags with candy, sandwiches, sodas, chips and bottles of water for a long line of people on a busy sidewalk. The camera was behind Shirley, so I could only see the back of her head, but I could clearly hear her addressing everyone who approached her window with warmth and respect. As you watch Shirley distribute food and friendliness, it’s obvious that this isn’t a typical food truck. For one, Shirley isn’t taking any money for her wares. Second, her customers are homeless.

Shirley started “Foodie 2 The Streetz” as an extension of her original outreach program “Beauty 2 The Streetz”, a mobile hair salon she created to support homeless people by helping them reclaim a sense of dignity and self respect.

Shirley believes that everyone is worthy of love and deserves to feel beautiful. She acted on this belief as a way of giving purpose to her pain after the death of her child. After struggling with debilitating depression and anxiety for over three decades, Shirley decided to channel her experiences into helping others who were struggling.

Rain or shine, she sets up “shop” weekly at the corner of 5th and Townes to serve those she calls “Kings” and “Queens.” Her goal: to make the homeless feel human, whether that means a haircut, a facial, a hearty meal, or a hug
…Hero offers homeless food and hope… cnn.com

Now I know this is a Listen, and I’m getting to it. I promise! But first…I’d like to share one of Shirley’s TikToks with you.

The following is an examples of what Shirley does and the people who benefit from her services. This sweet man was so concerned with “bothering” Shirley and taking more than his fare share. You can see him gesturing to all of the people behind him. It touched my heart to see someone with so little, be so concerned that others got what they needed.

@beauty2thestreetz Yesterday, King said poor people have no choice 💔 He was so concerned with being a bother or taking too much. ❤️❤️🙏🏾✊🏿 and all he really wanted was WATER.

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I’ve been checking in with Shirley’s Tiktok page regularly for a few months now and it never occurred to me to donate until she posted a video asking for support. I followed the link in her bio and was delighted to find not only multiple ways to contribute to her cause, but a podcast she was interviewed for called “Get Mental”.

The interview was a nice way to get to know the woman behind “Beauty/Foodie 2 the Streetz” and hear her story. It’s full of hope and helpfulness. I highly recommend giving it a listen.

Here’s the link: Get Mental Ep 30: Beauty 2 The Streetz

Otherwise, you might consider contributing to Shirley’s organization. They, of course, take cash donations. They also have a page set up on Amazon where you can order specific items like backpacks and razors. You can even volunteer your time! How cool would it be to get hands on with Shirley’s incredible mission?

BONUS : Lizzo brought Shirley onstage, along with 16 other women, when she accepted her People’s Choice Award last December. It’s a touching moment and speaks to Lizzo’s character and genuine compassion for others.

Read - Revisting Harry Potter

I just finished reading “Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince”. It dethroned “Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban” as my favorite book in the series…so far. Still one more to go!

Sometimes I like to snuggle with my books a little before returning them to the library

Though Harry Potter needs no introduction — he’s one of the most culturally pervasive characters of our time — I decided to give him a little plug this week.

Why? Because HBO just announced their upcoming addition to the Harry Potter franchise, to be released in 2025/26.

Many people are up in arms about this, for all the obvious reasons. The movies were perfectly cast and iconic in their own right. JK Rowling has been embroiled in controversy that could derail the new series. People don’t need another Harry Potter iteration. Etc. Etc. Etc.

I, for one, am excited about the new series. It will be impossible to match the original cast, but the movies themselves actually left a lot on the table. Even with over 20 hours of run time, the 8 movie adaptations couldn’t fit all the details of the storyline.

The upcoming series will roll out over the course of ten seasons. That’s a full decade to cover all seven books. JK Rowling is an executive producer and HBO promises to remain faithful to the original story, including all of the details, characters and plot lines from the books. Exciting!

I invite you to revisit, or discover, the Harry Potter books.

I didn’t enter the Wizarding World until I read “Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone” to my son. Then, I made the fatal mistake of watching the movie with him as soon as we finished the book. He was seven at the time and didn’t have the patience to sit through the other books after that. He just wanted to watch the movies.

It was so sad. Although, we did enjoy watching all the movies together.

I’ve been slowly working my way through the rest of books and loving them. They are so richly detailed and make more sense to me than the movies did.

Noooowwww……having read the books, I really want to go back and watch the movies from a more enlightened perspective.

It’s a vicious cycle. One I’m blissfully willing to be caught up in.

My point is, if you have never read the books and feel like you missed the boat, I’m here to tell you that you absolutely did not. Read them! They are wonderful and just keep getting better as the series goes along. I am continually amazed at how much I enjoy these “kids books” as an adult. Genuinely, one of the best stories ever dreamed up and written down.