A Tribute To Dad
By Janine Miller, Announcer and Producer
With Mother’s Day behind us, I find myself thinking about Father’s Day, a holiday that doesn’t get nearly as much press. In music, as in life, my mom taught me to practice and work hard. But it was dad who taught me to have FUN with music...and to love music and people with all of my heart.
Some of my earliest memories involve my dad, without any musical training, playing his old weathered banjo. Many nights after dinner, I would dance, twirl and jump to the music until I was dizzy! My father also taught me to have an “attitude of gratitude” and that you could always find something good about someone if you would just take the time to look.
In case you think I had a perfect childhood, I’ll have to disappoint you there. When I was in my 20’s, I received a phone call that I’ll never forget. My father told me that he was an alcoholic and that he was sorry for any pain he had caused me. He was on Step 8 of Alcoholics Anonymous, which asks participants to make a list of all persons harmed, and to be willing to make amends to them all. It may sound odd to you, but I had never known of my dad’s struggles with alcohol. The news did shed light on a few childhood moments, but I consider myself very fortunate. Maybe it’s the attitude of gratitude from Dad after all. I know that he is very grateful to God, to AA, and to his family and has been completely sober for 25 years.
Sadly, my parents eventually split up after over 50 years of marriage. But a few years before that, my father started taking music lessons for the very first time. Even in poor health and in a wheelchair, he rediscovered the joy of music, with his instrument of choice an electronic keyboard. Dad now lives in Texas in an assisted living facility close to my brother. He is known for the kind words that he offers to the people who work there, in jobs where they’re more likely to hear complaining than praise. And staff and residents alike know him as Jim, the man who plays the organ, sharing his music with staff and residents alike.
Dad listens to K-BACH on live stream at www.kbach.org. He feels like he knows all of the announcers, although I’ll bet you can guess who his favorite is!
I appreciate both of my parents. But I especially thank my father for his love of music, along with the gift of knowing that acceptance and love come when we’re not perfect, but grateful.
Thanks, Dad, and Happy Father’s Day to fathers everywhere!!
