This video is an ASL interpretation of “Someone Like You” by Adele. Piano and sung by my friend Dana Johnson.

I was extremely excited about this performance with my best friend. I love how she can sing and play the piano. It makes such a put-together, all-in-one, inclusive performance.

I’ve known Dana since her freshmen year and my junior year in high school. My first memories of her are watching her sing and dance on stage in musicals and plays in the fall of 2005. She’s also trained in baton twirling, and along with playing the piano since she was young, she also plays the guitar and creates watercolor paintings and sea glass jewelry.

Being the multi-talented performer that she is, she’s a natural on stage. However, her fate was to save lives by becoming a nurse.

A full-time caretaker and part-time artist and performer, Dana found the time to perform with me at Tower Brewing’s open-mic night in Sacramento, right before the start of the pandemic, January 2020.

We were both nervous. It was the first time I had performed ASL in front of people in probably five years.

It was a hit. We were so proud of ourselves. My favorite part is when she got up to sign with me as she automated her piano to continue playing as she kept singing and the crowd followed.

We had planned to do more performances. Alas, the pandemic canceled any upcoming events, and we never got the chance.

Also, because of the pandemic, Dana’s schedule ramped up.

Stay tuned, though. We will do another someday soon!

P.S. Thank you to all the nurses for what you do.

SSxx