Tag Archives: abby

Music, Stories

Concerts that cross generations!

As a 59-year-old father, I never thought I’d be attending a Taylor Swift concert, let alone enjoying it just as much as my 16-year-old daughter. But here we are, both huge “Swifties” excitedly anticipating her upcoming concert at MetLife Stadium, May 27th.

It’s amazing how music can bring generations together. When I was a teenager, my parents didn’t understand my love for rock music. But now, I find myself connecting with my daughter over music that we both love. We sing along to Taylor Swift’s hits in the car, dance to her songs at home, and watch her music videos together. It’s a special bond that we share.

My daughter’s love for Taylor Swift started when she was just a little girl. I remember her dancing and singing along to “Style” in the car, and it’s been a love affair ever since. She’s grown up with Taylor’s music and has connected with the lyrics in a way that only teenagers can. I’m so proud of her for finding something that she’s passionate about, and it’s amazing to see her excitement for the upcoming concert.

As for me, I was a bit of a latecomer to the Taylor Swift fandom. I’ll admit, I didn’t really “get” her music at first although I knew I liked it. But as I listened more, I found myself drawn in by the catchy melodies and relatable lyrics. Now, I can proudly say that I’m a “Swiftie” too. And my daughter thinks it’s pretty cool that her dad loves Taylor Swift just as much as she does.

We are both feeling a bit nostalgic about the fact that this will be the second time we see her live. The first time we saw her was during her “reputation tour,” and it was an unforgettable experience for both of us.
The excitement we felt during the first concert was something we will never forget. The atmosphere was electric, and the energy in the arena was palpable. It was incredible to see my daughter’s eyes light up as her favorite artist took the stage, and I couldn’t help but feel like the coolest dad in the world for sharing that moment with her.

In addition to Taylor Swift, my daughter and I have attended several other concerts together. Most recently, we saw Post Malone, who has quickly become one of our favorite artists. Seeing Post Malone live was an entirely different experience from seeing Taylor Swift. The crowd was different, and the energy was wild, but we both loved every minute of it.

Our shared love of music extends beyond just one or two artists. We have attended concerts by U2 and other classic rock bands that are popular with my generation, as well as newer bands and artists that appeal to younger generations. It’s been incredible to see how music can cross generations in both directions, bringing people together through shared experiences and emotions.

As a father, it’s important to me to share these experiences with my daughter. Not only does it create a special bond between us, but it also helps me understand her better and appreciate her taste in music. It’s easy for older generations to dismiss the music of younger generations as frivolous or lacking in substance, but attending concerts together has shown me that this couldn’t be further from the truth.

In conclusion, attending concerts together has become a cherished tradition for my daughter and me. We are counting down the days until we see Taylor Swift live again this week, and we know that it will be another unforgettable experience that we will cherish for years to come. Whether it’s Taylor Swift, Post Malone, or any other artist, music truly has the power to bring people together and bridge the gap between generations.

Inspire, Stories

RIP Bubba…you will be missed!

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This is Bubba about 2 weeks ago!
This is Bubba about 2 weeks ago!

Today is a sad day for the Estigarribia household. Abby lost her pet Betta fish Bubba today. He was over 4 years old (taking into account that when we got him he was almost a year old). Which in Betta fish land is a pretty good lifespan for a fish that is in a 1 gallon bowl with no filtration system.

Bubba came to our family as a Hanukkah gift to Abby in December 2009. I think that Abby has learned quite a lot from this fish. Some of the experiences that I can remember talking to her about with regards to Bubba included mostly questions about life itself. Early on she questioned why Bubba lived alone in his tank and didn’t have friends. We had to explain to her that Betta fish are not fish that really enjoy each other’s company. She also questioned life itself. She asked us how long Bubba would live. We wanted to ensure we prepared her for the inevitable so we explained that the lifespan of a Betta fish is usually not more than 2-3 years. This prompting her to associate death with people and herself too. Which is not an easy subject to discuss with a 4 or 5-year-old, but it is part of life. I’m sure at the time she was a bit confused but over time she’s obviously getting a full understanding of the concept of death. She was sad about the fact that eventually Bubba would possibly die. But understood it.

As the years past we taught her the importance of keeping Bubba fed, his tank clean, and how he was her pet. Abby being very loving in nature accepted this responsibility and always kept on top of things. Over the last few months Ilyssa and I suspected that Bubba was getting old and would not make it through the summer. You could see that he was slowing down. So we started to talk to Abby about it and started to prepare her for what happened today.

Despite all the preparations, it was quite sad this morning when she discovered that Bubba was not moving. Tears rolled down her eyes as she came to me with the news. We held her and consoled her for a few moments and I promised her that when she got home from school later today that we would have a proper burial for him in our backyard. I’ll probably be tasked with doing the eulogy….what do you say about a fish? “Bubba was a good fish, he swam. He swam like no other fish…” Ok, that’s a good start!

I am sure that after a week or so we will go to the pet store to get another Betta fish for her. This is another thing we’ve told her throughout the years. A new friend will come into her room to keep her company for another 4-5  or longer years. Life will go on…but Bubba will always be remembered in our hearts.

Rest in Peace Bubba! 12/09 – 4/13.

 

Stories

The “Sleepover” Story

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sleepover

Ok, so my daughter had a sleepover last night at our neighbors house. It wasn’t her first sleepover, it was technically her third. The first time counts but not as much because it was at her Aunt Karen’s house. You know, familiar person and surroundings, etc. Although it was a very big step for both Abby and her crazy parents that can’t breathe without her.

The first “Real” sleepover was a few months ago at a neighbor’s house that literally lives 4 houses away. Ilyssa and I were waiting for that phone call at 9-10pm of a desperate little girl asking us to come get her so she can come home. But that phone call never came. My wife texting our neighbor periodically until bedtime to make sure she was safe and sound asleep. And even after that we still thought we would get a phone call at 1-2am….but we didn’t. We woke up the next morning to find out that she didn’t want to come home and she still wanted to stay and play a while. So the ice had been broken….she can handle staying over without Mom and Dad.

Is this the beginning of losing her? I can’t take it…..

The sleepover last night was at our neighbors house that is 2 houses away in our Cul-de-sac. The event was planned days in advance and leading up to it Abby was very excited. She was packed early that morning. While packing (5 bags mind you) her mom told her that she needed to downsize a bit. The biggest items are usually the stuffed animals that she “Needs” in order to sleep. Well, mom went shopping and gave daddy the instructions to help her pack 1 bag and get ready. So, we proceeded to do so. The dilemma came when we got to the stuffed animals. So we compromised with a lot of pain in between, but she was allowed to bring her unicorn, her panda and her puppy but needed to leave the rest home. She cried a bit and stormed out of her room with one of her favorite bears. She came back moments later (without the bear) and just a bit teary eyed. I asked what she was doing and she said “nothing, I’m ok now”. I left it alone and we finished packing.

Moments later, the neighbors were knocking on the door and was one her way.

Most parents would be excited about this and begin to rejoice the freedom and some peace and quite. But I usually get a little sad because I won’t have my little buddy around and of course I need to always be entertained like a 5-year-old. My wife was still out, but we decided that we would go out to dinner as we had this bit of freedom. So I proceeded to our bedroom to get dressed for our date when I stumbled across this on our bed.

In case you can’t read the purple writing on the tablet, it says “Mommy can you take care ove my teddy bear, Love Abby”

IMG_2353

I literally got teary eyed when I saw it. I think it may have been the sweetest thing I’ve ever seen Abby do on her own like that. When my wife saw it she felt the same way. Needless to say, Ilyssa slept with the bear that night. I was luckily not on the couch….

As for Abby, well while I sit here writing this post she is still at our neighbors house. It’s now after 11am and she just called us to ask if she can go to the mall with them this afternoon. I know it’s inevitable that your kids eventually begin to separate from you a bit and become independent, but no one ever said you have to like it. Although I am extremely proud of her and happy that she is having a good time, I still miss her dearly and can’t wait for her to come home later.