The Big Disclaimer: The photograph below was projected to the public during Sammy Brown’s performance of “How to Go to Confession” for the 2015 “Ryan and Shannon’s Largest Clouds Choir from the Mall of America.” If it’s projected at a mall and then projected again on YouTube, does that make it public domain? Maybe not at all, and if not I’ll take it right down. It’s just a really nice portrait that cheered my heart.

I’m on the corner waiting for the WALK sign. Stopped at the same red light, there’s a van full of teenage girls. They’re singing together, in happy summer road cruise racket. (In a movie that crowded van would be a convertible, and one of them would have her bare toes out the window.) Their collective effort smudges out the lyrics, and I can’t guess the notes they’re trying for. It sounds like a slowed bridge passage of the song, and none of them knows it down pat. But the girls don’t mind; they’re having too much fun.

Then the light changes. The van charges ahead just as the girls hit the chorus, and they’re happier and more exuberant than ever as they sail away out of sight and sound. I cross the intersection, focusing on all the car lanes while an auditory echo of the chorus replays in mind. The hook is three rising notes, Do (beat) Mi (beat) So.

Oh! Hey now. That’s “Clouds.” Those girls are singing Zach Sobiech! God bless them.

It’s been years since documentary clips of Zach Sobiech crossed my radar. My radar didn’t track the followup of the story, the inspired crowd singing events and the Disney film and everything. So now I wonder, did Zach write any other songs? Yes he did. A search at home turns up Zach’s band A Firm Handshake, with his friends Samantha (Sammy) Brown and Reed Redmond. Because hypertext links don’t always work, especially in other countries, here are the YouTube titles:

“Sandcastles by Zach Sobiech and Sammy Brown – A Firm Handshake”

“Star Hopping – by A Firm Handshake (Zach Sobiech, Sammy Brown, Reed Redmond)”

What wonderfully creative young people. They came up with fresh unique wholesome visuals and themes. The songs seem simple on the surface at first listen, but they’re not. They have goodness and depth. They reflect profound appreciation for the beauty of nature and friendly connection, for the smallest precious moments of our lives.

Being a teenager is fiercely difficult. Zach was magnificent at it, navigating an unusually fierce epic of teen life with honest dignified equanimity and humor and undying love for the family and friends who undyingly love him.

Next time there are teenagers or younger kids in my life, or maybe people who aren’t young at all, I’ll play those songs for them too. We can sing the star hop blastoff adventure chorus: “Start the countdown: Three, Two, One — Let’s Go!”

Then we’ll go out on my balcony and look at the sky.