A couple of weeks ago, I wrote a blog after watching the movie “Song Sung Blue”, based on the true story of a couple who made their living performing as a Neil Diamond tribute band.
https://wheredidmommyssmilego.com/2026/02/18/song-sung-blue/
The movie immediately struck a chord and got me thinking about my own love for Neil Diamond — a love that began when my mom took me to see him when I was just ten years old. It was my very first concert, and I’ve been a fan ever since.
Right after posting that blog, I received a message from a friend on Facebook who follows my journey. She had just read my post and reached out to offer me two complimentary tickets to see a Neil Diamond tribute band performing at a local theatre.
Last night was the night.
And today, my heart feels full.
Grateful for kindness that shows up unexpectedly.
Grateful for people who reach out in ways that remind you that you are seen, supported, and valued.
Grateful for gestures that may seem small to the giver, but can mean the world to the person receiving them.
Community has a quiet but powerful way of doing that — of wrapping around you and reminding you that you’re not alone.
After the difficult week the Jewish community has endured — both here in Toronto, where three synagogues were targeted by gunfire, and with the ongoing tensions in Israel — I won’t lie when I say I felt super anxious heading to the theatre last night, knowing the show was taking place at a Jewish community venue.
But by the end of the evening, something shifted.
Near the close of his performance, the Neil Diamond tribute artist shared a heartwarming story. Over his 25-year career, people often ask if he’s Jewish, since Neil Diamond is. He smiled and explained that he isn’t — but that his mother always wore a Jewish star around her neck (she wasn’t Jewish either). When he began performing as Neil Diamond, she gave him the necklace and told him to wear it during his shows. Since her passing in 2018, he told us he hasn’t taken it off.
There was something deeply touching about that moment. It was a small story, but one that carried a lot of heart. It was a quiet reminder that kindness and connection often reach far beyond the boundaries we think divide us – that respect toward the Jewish community still exist in many corners of the world.
And truly, any friend of the Jewish community is a friend of mine.
Music has a way of marking the moments of our lives — weaving together memory, joy, and connection. Last night carried echoes of that first concert with my mom, along with the warmth of generosity and the comfort of community.
And in a world that can sometimes feel heavy, moments like these remind us how good it feels to simply feel supported… and to know we belong.
“So good, so good”.
#neildiamond #tributeband #community #support #music @willchalmers #grief #sogood #standwithus #mentalhealth #anxiety
YouAreEnough 