1. His legacy
My father's enduring legacy is a simple yet profound guide: prioritize kindness, embrace forgiveness, and seize every moment of life.
He consistently found the good in bad situations. For him, the simple things in life held more significance than grand acts.
His love and respect for nature, and his faith in its healing, have also become part of who I am.
2. Childhood memories
Growing up, my best times were with my dad. He was so creative; he'd build me absolutely anything.
I also loved his stories, the kind that were just ours, locked in my memory.
I really want to keep those stories going and tell them to my children.
Music was a big thing growing up too. And yeah, we always had tons of animals around – like, every kind you could think of. Mostly they were rescues.
3. Trips around the world
In the year before we lost him, my dad and mom got to enjoy a few trips with us. He was like a child again, utterly amazed by everything he saw.
His happiness was so clear, and he couldn't wait to tell everyone about it.
Knowing his difficult start in life and how hard he had to work from such a young age, seeing all those different places and cultures must have been truly special for him.
I'm just so glad we could give him those moments as his time with us was drawing to an end...
4. Importance of music
Music is how I feel my dad's enduring presence. He got me started on instruments, and singing was always his way of really expressing himself.
That dodgy sense of rhythm I've got? Yep, that's from my father – something we were both hilariously bad at.
My playlists are packed with his favorites: The Beatles, Creedence Clearwater Revival, and Dire Straits. "Have You Ever Seen the Rain" was a huge one for him, and the very last song he heard.
This video captures some of our joyful moments together, both playing and creating precious memories. His favorite song, played by me, forms the soundtrack to these moments.