Today marks 20 years since my dad passed, just two days before my 22nd birthday. This complicated man was my whole world, and in many ways, losing him forced me to become my own person (something Iâm ultimately grateful for). But that hasnât made the grief any easier. The holiday season has never been the same for me. Some years are easier than others, and even this yearâwhile Iâve been happier than in previous seasonsâI still experience moments of deep, overwhelming sadness.
When I reflect on why this grief still hits so hard, I think itâs because I always felt fully seen and known by him. We talked about everything. Even in his later years, as his body deteriorated, I remember the comfort of spending three hours round-trip in the car with him, driving to his dialysis treatments, then sitting with him for another four hours and talking the whole time. It felt like there was never a dull moment with him.
My dad was loving, affectionate, and inclusive, but he also caused harm to people I care about, and thatâs difficult to reconcile some days. Even though he would do anything for our family, he was also reckless, and on more than one occasion, put our family in compromising situations.
Still, in this age of isolation, I find myself appreciating more and more the specific ways he loved me as a father. He was tough, but I never once doubted he loved me and would do anything for me.
While there are so many traits of his I am glad I did not inherit, I wish everyone could experience the type of intimacy and love that I had with him. This holiday season, I wish peace to all of you who have loved and lost.
p.s. If you make it to the last slide, that is one of my favorite memories.
Directors @beetucks and @csbaron discuss Wylin as a character and the importance of using his footage from the 2020 âMarch for Black Livesâ in the film.
#documentaryfilm #lynden #lyndendocumentary #reels #filmproduction
Our short documentary film STYLE: A SEATTLE BASKETBALL STORY won a NW Regional Emmy (@natasnw ) award last night for âSports Story: Short and Long Form Content.â It was amazing to share the stage with our Executive Producers and stars of the film, Daryll Hennings and Dan Finkley. Later last month, we also won a Special Jury Mention award for Best Documentary Short after our premiere at SIFF (@siffnews ). Iâm so thankful @searotarystyle and @rotaryhoops for letting @madronabureau@jackson.clough and I tell this story.
We are excited to share the trailer for our new documentary, LYNDEN. Get your tickets to the Seattle screening (7/22) or Bellingham screening (7/31) at the link in my bio.
Director(s): @csbaron@beetucks
Producer: @leeninjas
Featuring: @amsaburke_
#lynden #blacklivesmatter #racialjustice
