My only child, my daughter Bella, turned 11 years old on May 27th. That milestone has left me with a myriad of mixed emotions I’m struggling to articulate. She is growing into a beautiful, smart, and kind-hearted young lady, and I’m incredibly proud of her.
Still, there are aspects of her growing up that I find difficult to come to terms with. For instance, I wasn’t thrilled that Spiller Elementary School hosted a 5th-grade dance for students who will be entering a brand-new middle school in Wytheville this fall. Children seem to be learning and encountering things earlier and earlier—things I didn’t become aware of until I was at least two or three years older than Bella is now.
The idea of 10- and 11-year-olds having “boyfriends” and “girlfriends” feels premature to me. Whether I like it or not, though, it’s a reality of today’s world. I’m also struggling with the emergence of typical teenage attitudes showing up at such early ages. My sweet little girl—who once loved playing innocent games, like lying in the grass to find shapes in the clouds—now mimics Taylor Swift in outfits that feel far too revealing for someone not yet an adult.
Still, Bella and I share many special moments as father and daughter, and I’m thankful we have more ahead. Every time I hesitate to buy tickets to a concert or event due to cost, I ask myself—especially as a disabled parent—how many more opportunities like this she’ll want to share with me. That thought often motivates me to say yes while I still have the means and ability to make it happen for her.
We’re looking forward to seeing Ringo Starr again in Greensboro on June 18th. We also plan to attend Wicked when the touring production comes to Charlotte on October 19th. Bella, a big fan of Ariana Grande, invited me to watch the film adaptation of the Broadway classic. To my surprise, I really enjoyed it—thanks in large part to the incredible performance by the extraordinarily talented Cynthia Erivo and the rest of the cast.
My mother is absolutely crazy about Wicked. She has seen it live on Broadway and twice more on tour. She read all the books and watched every film adaptation. When Bella said she wanted to see it live, I looked it up and was delighted to find that the tour was coming to the Belk Theater this fall.
One of the highlights of this year for Bella and me was seeing Million Dollar Quartet at the Barter Theatre. In fact, we saw it twice—once with my wife (and Bella’s mom), Emily, and again thanks to the kindness of director Nick Piper, who arranged for us to meet the cast. They were a truly gracious and talented group of performers, and it was a moment we’ll never forget. I’m deeply grateful to my friends Amber Fiorini and Nikki Goodman for helping make that experience possible.
The Barter Theatre in Abingdon holds a special place in my heart. I’ve made so many memories there since seeing my first play in second grade. I’ll always feel indebted to that institution and the wonderful people who make it what it is. It’s no wonder it has a global reputation as one of the finest theaters in the world—it certainly is to us.
This year, Bella chose a new spot for her birthday party. Thanks to the generosity of my parents, she and three friends will be enjoying the trampoline park at Crossroads Social House in Wytheville on Saturday, May 31st, owned by local entrepreneur Nick Patel and his family. Afterward, we’ll treat the kids to pizza and an ice cream cake. Bella would never forgive me if I didn’t mention her long-time friends Olivia Hoback, Scarlett Spencer, and Aiden Boyd, who will be her special guests for the day.
I’m very proud of Bella’s achievements this year. She was a member of the Spiller Elementary fifth grade choir. She’s always had a beautiful singing voice—just like her mother—and under the guidance of Leslie Mabe, she has started to hone her God-given talent. At her graduation, she performed a song from Wicked, moving all of us to tears.
Transitioning to middle school has been emotionally difficult for Bella, though it’s only one of many challenges she’s faced this year. As many of you know, we lost our beloved dog Sophie this year. Sophie had been by Bella’s side nearly every day of her life since we brought her home from the hospital. Losing her has been the most painful experience our family has faced. Just two months earlier, we also said goodbye to our cat.
We’re grateful for the many years we had with Sophie, but all of us have deeply felt the loss. We are a tight-knit family, and her absence is profound.
In closing, I’m incredibly proud of the family Emily and I have built. Bella is the heart of it all—her beautiful personality and kind soul shine just as brightly as her outer beauty.
Happy birthday to my sweet girl. I love her more than I will ever be able to put into words.
