Parents...My parents.

When I was young, I thought my parents were perfect. I thought my parents were the smartest people in the world. Most kiddos do, I think. Mom could have been a concert pianist, in fact she told me once - not too long ago, that she had even considered it early on in her life...before Dad...before 6 kids! Dad was a math whiz. The calculations he could do in his head were truly amazing. He worked as a Projects Engineer for the St. Louis County Highway and Traffic Department for many years. They both came from a tiny town in southeast Missouri and grew up during the depression of the 1930's. Dad was and Mom is intelligent with individual talents who were always supportive and encouraging of us kids. I'm sure the family dynamic changed as the family grew and the years spread their life across our home. What was normal for Michele and myself was not the same for Bob, Mike, Jerry and Evanne. But when there is such a huge gap in ages, that is to be expected.

There was always music in our house. I can remember coming home from elementary school and hearing The Mills Brothers on the stereo as Michele and I walked in the door. Mom played piano and we sang. There was rock, jazz, classical, everything but country. Mom and Dad didn't like country music, so we didn't hear that in our house. When I was really young, I loved listening to my brothers' choices of music...Steppenwolf, The Who, and all of those bands that were so big back then. When Evanne was in high school, we listened to Boston, Steve Miller Band and Aerosmith among many others. We attended choir and band concerts and watched symphony concerts on tv. I loved when the St. Louis Symphony would travel down to our area and play at a local community college...that was a huge treat! 

I don't ever remember NOT being a musician. Even as a young child, I was a musician. I loved how the music allowed my brain to erupt into thought and feeling and creativity. It was an inspiration to sit and listen to Mom practice piano, play concert pieces, sing around the house as she was cooking and cleaning...it was a warmth and comfort that filled our home. And...still does when we're there.

I guess this is a tribute to my parents. Dad has been gone now for 19 years but his spirit lives on with us! Mom is 82 and is still as funny, loving and musical as she's always been! She doesn't play piano much anymore, but she still hums and sings quietly as she makes her way through the house...slower now, but with authority. And...if you catch her on the right day, you can still hear the Mills Brothers putting on a concert...or Rod Stewart...she has a very large range of musical interest!

I just want to thank my parents for being the incredible people that they were and are. I'm blessed to have had them and I'm blessed to be the product of people who cared enough to sacrifice their comfort for my education and happiness. I can never repay that, but I can appreciate and love them.