Mirror May: He's Everywhere

I just came back from Nashville recently. A cheap, short, vacation, but much needed one just the same...but what I found in Nashville is something I really didn't expect.

My dad was EVERYWHERE. The household I grew up in was one in which my father constantly talked about wanting to take me places...and when I was younger we traveled a lot, Virginia Beach, Myrtle Beach, and many other places...we were constantly going on adventures, then as I got older we took less trips... early on in my dads cancer he had talked about taking me to Chicago, New York, Florida, California, and Nashville... he wanted to take me so many places and never got the chance. After he died I became a person that never thought I'd get to do any of the things I wanted, then in college I was able to go to Chicago, Florida, and California. Then last Oct. I went to New York, and finally most recently I went to Nashville. I've felt my dad with me on all these trips but this one... this one I felt him with me the WHOLE time.

We went to Ryman, I felt him there... My father is the one that introduced me to music, especially the older musicians, country and otherwise. He and my mom are the ones that introduced me to the music I still love today, music that was from their times. Then at the Grand Ole Opry, standing on the circle... I felt him then... I knew he was with me, asking me to sing with him again...

Then came the Belle Meade Plantation... More history and he was there too...He loved all those old civil war stories and I could feel him walking that tour with me, smiling, so interested in the stories...

My father passed down his love of history and his love of music with me...and I miss him so much right now. It's stronger than it's been in a while...maybe because I'm following in his footsteps and catching up with him on knee surgeries (though none of mine have been replacements at this point...) All I know is...I can feel him. I'm scared about my surgery, and about life in general but I know my daddy is with me and I'm so thankful for all the things he taught me and the loves he brought to my attention!  My father was an amazing man and I was blessed to have him in my life for 15 years.

Until next time...