09/05/2024
57 years on the planet, 31 years as a Girl Dad
I gotta say my dad has impeccable music taste. It wasnt until I went away to college I realized how diverse my musical taste was a result of his life experiences born in โ๏ธ New Orleans, raised at St. AUGUSTINE, ๐Howard University Alumnus
Singing in the car on the way and back from school, with my dad, and sister- are key childhood memories
Our Girl Dad infused our car rides with Lauryn Hill, Stevie Wonder, D'Angelo, Sly & The Family Stone, Erykah Badu ๐ผ๐ต๐ฟ
But every now and then, during our morning routine, a challenge would arise.
We'd wake up, and someone had broken the backseat window of my dad's car to snag the radio, cds ๐ฟ, and sometimes his personalized tape cassettes ๐ป
My 10 year old brain would think, what's the point of getting the window fixed, replacing cds, let's just leave it for a while, what's the point of getting another radio, we can go another month without it, because I knew someone was clearly watching the car.
I thought if we eliminate the thing they wanted then at least they'll leave the car alone.
I internalized each window break, cried everytime: "Why couldn't I hear the people outside, why couldn't I protect my dad? Was I sleeping SO hard I couldn't hear glass shatter?" (Apparently)
My dad is telling me it's okay but I'm like no- let's not normalize stealing dad.
Over and over again this would happen, and after my dad would finish cleaning out the glass from the backseat, he'd give the usual warning be careful, sit on this blanket, dont touch the door, and we'd head to school, he'd start playing the steering wheel like a drum, and we'd sing, to cover the silence in LA morning school traffic, back on course even with all the drama- I was never late to school. My dad always taught me to choose the path of happiness, regardless of the length you'll have it for. My dad is the perfect combination of resilient and goofy. Eventually, he never had to buy another radio or window.
Please help me wish my amazing father, the living representation of Dad Jokes, and one of the greatest carpool karoke singers a very HAPPY 57th BIRTHDAY!! ๐ซก๐๐ฅณ๐