A few Saturdays back – I got to spend some time with the Chana and Gulotta families, while they put the finishing touches on the floragraphs of Cameron and Jay that will be on the 2010 Donate Life Float. Scott posted a beautiful little piece with several pictures of both families and the floragraphs of Chandler and Jay titled Donate Life Float Floragraph Decorating Recap…
The Daily Herald published an article on December 15th about Anne and Jay under the title “Barrington woman using Rose Parade for organ donor awareness.”
This is Annie with her daughter Elizabeth, and her son, JR… JR is part of the Jay Gulotta Band – I’ve heard them play – they’re a pretty neat group – they do a lot of original music, and a few covers. A few months ago, Annie shared the start of a song that JR had been working on – I found it incredibly moving even though I had only heard the first verse… Anne later shared it with me as JR finished his song, in a simple acoustic version and finally a version backed up by the rest of his band. They shared that version at our little get-together finishing the floragraphs…
JR got the inspiration from his Dad, Jay, who died almost eight years ago and became an organ donor… JR introduced the song to all of us – he spoke eloquently about being on the road one day, feeling a breeze across his face, and feeling the presence of his Dad – and realizing that he was going to be OK – that everything was going to be OK… It’s a beautiful song – It doesn’t speak specifically to organ donation – but I think if you’re involved in organ donation, or if you’re a donor family, and maybe particularly if you’re a recipient – and maybe more so if you’re breathing with new lungs – you’ll find it incredibly beautiful…
If the world is a nice place – this link will open up your MP3 player… JR’s song is titled Thank you…
