For years, I haven’t wanted to celebrate my birthday. Ever since my dad passed, the day has felt heavy—filled more with painful memories than joy. It’s hard to explain, but birthday wishes and well-meaning celebrations have sometimes triggered a kind of PTSD response in me. So I’ve mostly kept the day quiet, under the radar.
But this year was different.
My birthday happened to land on Memorial Day, and I spent it doing something meaningful: performing in a Memorial Day ceremony with the band I play with. The City of Sugar Land hosted the event, and they invited us to be part of the program. Jeff, Mom, and David came out to watch, which made it even more special.
And you know what? It was a good day. No stress, no anxiety—just music, remembrance, and a little bit of healing.
