Which members of the Ranch Family have been on this trail with me long enough to recognize this man beside me?
If you do… then you already know how deeply I miss him. These days I can feel him around me stronger than ever, like he’s saddling up right beside me. I’ll tell you more about that in the coming days… it’s powerful. ❤️
If you’re newer here: this amazing man is my father — my hero, my mentor, my hardest critic, my steady North Star, my teacher in grit and grace, and the man who shaped a huge part of the cowboy I became.
Life threw more at him than most people could handle… cancer and Parkinson’s at the same time. He beat the cancer. And he wrestled Parkinson’s for 14 long years, refusing to give in. 💪 Only the last 2.5 years required help.
When that moment came, I pushed pause on everything — my career, the ranch, my own life — because my parents loved their home and they feared ending their days anywhere else. So my sister and I stepped in. For a little more than three years I lived with my 3 dogs (Mikey, Scout and Fuzzy) in an appartment 5 minutes away from my parents, 100 miles south from the ranch. Eight-hour shifts, seven days a week, almost no free days… it took a lot out of me, I won’t lie. But I’d do it again for them in a heartbeat.
Those years gave me memories I’d never trade. One moment will stay with me forever:
my parents were talking about what they appreciated most in each other… and out of nowhere, my Dad turned to me — a man who barely said ‘I love you’ or ‘I’m proud of you’— and said: ‘Son, I love you for your big, caring heart, for your humanity, your selflessness and that you restlessly try to share the light, that lives inside you, with the world, to make it a better place! I first thought you’re a dreamer, but I actually can see it happen! I’m proud of you!’ ✨💖
That was after I had written & published a chart breaking song about him and his fight against Parkinson’s! 🙈😅 It got picked up & powered by many Parkinson’s Associations around the globe! I’ll share the official video in the comments! Go and meet my Dad, he was/is proud part of it! If you like it, leave a like and comment on it on Youtube!
#myfathermyhero #fathersandsons #parkinsonsdisease #warriorspirit #fighterspirit #parkinsons #parkinsonsawareness #caretaker
