Like my father, I love music. If anyone were to look at my iTunes playlist, they would find a variety of music genres. It drives my friends crazy, being in the car with me, because one minute they’ll be listening to Ed Sheeran and next thing they know, they’re listening to Faith Hill or Selena y Los Dinos. 

Like most kids, my taste in music is derived from my parents. I grew up sitting in the back seat of my dad’s Volvo, listening to Bob Seger and The Eagles. Every once in awhile, he would break out his Gloria Estefan or Ritchie Valens CDs and we’d sing along.

My dad and I have a bond when it comes to music. This bond was forged out of car rides to school and road trips to New Orleans. 

There was a time when I was 16 years old that we took a family trip to Las Vegas. It was me, my dad, my stepmom, my baby brother and my stepmom’s family. I was having a rough time being there, because it was very hot, and my stepmom and I weren’t exactly getting along at the time.

On one particular day, everyone decided that they wanted to go bowling – everyone except me and my dad. I was perfectly fine with staying at the hotel and being a brat. My dad, on the other hand, wanted to go to a Jackson Browne concert at Hard Rock. 

He asked everyone if they wanted to go with him, but they had declined. Figuring a concert was better than going bowling or staying in the hotel, I offered to go with him. I’m sure glad I did.

Dad and I grabbed dinner at this Mexican restaurant not too far from Hard Rock. I asked him who this Jackson Browne guy was, and he said that I might know him from the song “Take It Easy.” 

I was very familiar. I heard the song multiple times listening to The Eagles. I felt a little better going to the concert, but I still wasn’t sure if I was going to like it. 

Our seats were three rows away from the stage, so we could see the band perfectly. By the time the music started and Jackson Browne started singing, I was hooked.

People all around us were cheering and singing along to the songs. I just sat back, tapping my foot along to the rhythm.

Shortly after the trip, I went to the local CD store and purchased two Jackson Browne CDs. 

To this day, if I’m in the car with my dad, I make sure to play those CDs for us to listen to. Even if we’re just going to pick up dinner at Newk’s. 

I’m so glad that I went to a concert with my dad that day. It added another CD to our music collection and more importantly, it allowed me to spend some quality time with my dad.

Happy Father’s Day to my dad and all the other fathers out there.