The last couple months have been…well, life-changing. Instead of blogging, I sat at my father's bedside as he finished the final chapter of his story. I've been with my family through it all, from his passing, full of sorrow and relief, to his memorial, filled with celebration and support. But now it's 2015, and a year full of opportunities and possibilities lies ahead. I'm the same person I was last year, but at the same time I'm completely changed. The journey of this life teaches us so many things, and I'm humbled by all of you, friends and family, who have been part of my journey. I hope I can continue to be a part of yours. Before I move on, back to the blogs, the music, the fun, I wanted to post the words I spoke at my dad's memorial service, as a tribute to bring joy and remember. Thanks for reading…let's have a great year.
PREPARE YE THE WAY OF THE LORD! PREPARE YE THE WAY OF THE LORD! My Dad’s voice rang out just like that as he walked up to the altar in the middle of church, looking disheveled, dirty, and borderline crazy. Any teenage son would have been mortified. "Who is that?" "Don’t look at me; he’s not my Dad." But it was my Dad, and that Sunday he was John the Baptist, as part of a special sermon that our pastors must have agreed to let him do. All the same, it wouldn’t have surprised me if he had shown up to church dressed as a Biblical figure. Dad was always putting on shows, from actual live theaters, to our living room on a Wednesday night, to the hardware aisle in Home Depot. John the Baptist was on the more serious side, but most of the time, his shows were silly. I remember laughing on the ride to school at his funny voices like Goofy and Mickey Mouse. At home, every so often he’d pull a wig out of a box, or take a hat off the wall, and become Groucho Marx, a hippie, a clown, or a member of a biker gang. Sometimes, the stupid dance in the living room became a stupid dance in the grocery store, and I would get so embarrassed. That was just Paul.
Whether he knew it or not, he was teaching me how to live my life. One thing was obvious: Be yourself, and have fun doing it. My Dad’s greatest moments were the fearless choices he made to be himself. He was fearlessly creative and artistic, whether that was drawing little doodles, sculpting out of clay, or designing scenery with secret passages, trap doors, moving gondolas, rotating walls, sandy beaches, lifelike trees, and life-size pirate ships. He was a fearless teacher, not only with his students, but with everyone he met, never hiding from an opportunity to help someone learn ukulele, guitar, card tricks, how to juggle or tie a knot, how to use a table saw, monster make-up, or musical theater history. He was fearless in his love of music, from the popular folk and rock bands of the 1970s, to the less popular sea shanties of the 1870s. Lastly, he was a fearless adventurer. In the outdoors, sailing the beautiful Great Lakes, hiking majestic national parks, and bringing me along for all of it. But more important than mountains or lakes, my Dad tackled the adventure of being a good husband, brother, son, and father. Through all these things he taught me to be fearless, to be myself, and have fun doing it.
I’m glad my Dad wasn’t waiting for “retirement” to do what he loved. Instead, he was living his dream, full of passion, now. He was fearless because he truly understood that God would provide, and God did. Paul shared that love with everyone throughout his life, making moments and taking time to enjoy them, an example I aspire to. I used to think my Dad was fearless because he didn’t care about what other people thought. Now I can see that it’s actually the opposite. He cared about what everyone thought because he wanted all of us to experience the joyous gift of life, the way he did. I want to close with a quote he wrote in one of his journals. “It is ok to search, travel, and explore. That is part of it all. The trip is often more important than the destination. Be open to new things, new experiences, new people. Take God with you and you will never be alone.”
Ross
Upcoming Shows: Rayvon Owen and KellyeAnn Rogers @ Room 5 Lounge, Jan. 30. PLUS WATCH AMERICAN IDOL!
PREPARE YE THE WAY OF THE LORD! PREPARE YE THE WAY OF THE LORD! My Dad’s voice rang out just like that as he walked up to the altar in the middle of church, looking disheveled, dirty, and borderline crazy. Any teenage son would have been mortified. "Who is that?" "Don’t look at me; he’s not my Dad." But it was my Dad, and that Sunday he was John the Baptist, as part of a special sermon that our pastors must have agreed to let him do. All the same, it wouldn’t have surprised me if he had shown up to church dressed as a Biblical figure. Dad was always putting on shows, from actual live theaters, to our living room on a Wednesday night, to the hardware aisle in Home Depot. John the Baptist was on the more serious side, but most of the time, his shows were silly. I remember laughing on the ride to school at his funny voices like Goofy and Mickey Mouse. At home, every so often he’d pull a wig out of a box, or take a hat off the wall, and become Groucho Marx, a hippie, a clown, or a member of a biker gang. Sometimes, the stupid dance in the living room became a stupid dance in the grocery store, and I would get so embarrassed. That was just Paul.
Whether he knew it or not, he was teaching me how to live my life. One thing was obvious: Be yourself, and have fun doing it. My Dad’s greatest moments were the fearless choices he made to be himself. He was fearlessly creative and artistic, whether that was drawing little doodles, sculpting out of clay, or designing scenery with secret passages, trap doors, moving gondolas, rotating walls, sandy beaches, lifelike trees, and life-size pirate ships. He was a fearless teacher, not only with his students, but with everyone he met, never hiding from an opportunity to help someone learn ukulele, guitar, card tricks, how to juggle or tie a knot, how to use a table saw, monster make-up, or musical theater history. He was fearless in his love of music, from the popular folk and rock bands of the 1970s, to the less popular sea shanties of the 1870s. Lastly, he was a fearless adventurer. In the outdoors, sailing the beautiful Great Lakes, hiking majestic national parks, and bringing me along for all of it. But more important than mountains or lakes, my Dad tackled the adventure of being a good husband, brother, son, and father. Through all these things he taught me to be fearless, to be myself, and have fun doing it.
I’m glad my Dad wasn’t waiting for “retirement” to do what he loved. Instead, he was living his dream, full of passion, now. He was fearless because he truly understood that God would provide, and God did. Paul shared that love with everyone throughout his life, making moments and taking time to enjoy them, an example I aspire to. I used to think my Dad was fearless because he didn’t care about what other people thought. Now I can see that it’s actually the opposite. He cared about what everyone thought because he wanted all of us to experience the joyous gift of life, the way he did. I want to close with a quote he wrote in one of his journals. “It is ok to search, travel, and explore. That is part of it all. The trip is often more important than the destination. Be open to new things, new experiences, new people. Take God with you and you will never be alone.”
Gettin' it in San Diego.
Ross
Upcoming Shows: Rayvon Owen and KellyeAnn Rogers @ Room 5 Lounge, Jan. 30. PLUS WATCH AMERICAN IDOL!