02/22/2026
How do you even find the words when words feel just too heavy? I experienced the hardest day of my life today. My dad passed away today surrounded by family at 84 (almost 85) years old. I spent far too much of my life not appreciating him and all he did for me. He worked tirelessly until just a few short weeks before his death. He was an incredible musician who lived for music and honestly a wonderful father. I complained about him making me go back downstairs and practice again when I tried to come up early as a kid- but it made me a better musician. He was hard on me about my grades and school - but it made me a better student, get scholarships to college and instilled a strong work ethic in me. He didn’t accept me putting in bare minimum in anything in life - but that is because he loved me so much he knew I deserved more. I could go on and on about my dad and all the lessons I learned too late. He didn’t know how to show his love with affection but he loved me (as well as my mom and my brothers, sisters and family) so much that he spent his life doing what he could (in his own way) to take care of us.
I searched and searched for a photo that felt right but nothing did. I found this video of my dad more recently playing and I felt like THIS is exactly how he would want to be remembered. Playing piano with a smile on his face.
