THE STEREO LEDGER

“…we had a great love of music together…”

My dad was a salt of the earth blue-collar man. He worked hard his whole life. He didn’t go to college, but after being a telephone repairman, and a TV repairman, and I think at one point he sold cemetery plots, he ended up spending 20 or 25 years at AC Delco Electronics. Unfortunately he passed away when he was 54, before he could retire and enjoy the fruits of his labor. 

My dad was there for people. He would see a stranger pulled over on the side of the road and stop to help. If someone called to say their pipes were frozen, they could count on him to do all he could. But more than anything, he loved and was proud of being a dad. He just lived for his girls. When he and my mom got divorced, my sister was five and I was eight, and he fought for custody and he won. He raised us by himself. He dated sometimes, but he did not want to remarry until we were grown, and that’s exactly what he did. He put us first. 

Of course we had our trials and tribulations, but even in the tribulation times we had a great love of music together—that was always a real connection for us. My dad loved music. Especially Willie Nelson, but also George Jones, Frank Sinatra, Dolly Parton, Chuck Berry, Gladys Knight and the Pips. The song “Build Me Up, Buttercup” was one of his favorites. And he was a great dancer, both ballroom and square dancing. We took lessons together to learn how to do the Hustle! 

When I was 20, I asked if he would loan me money to buy a Pioneer stereo. I was living at home and didn’t have a lot of money myself—I was working at a department store and taking some classes but hadn’t officially started college yet. He said yes, and on a little piece of paper he started a ledger to keep track of what I’d borrowed and what I still owed. If I needed more money—to fix something on my car or get a piece of jewelry repaired—that would go in the ledger, too. 

After I bought the stereo, I’d put on Willie Nelson and crank it up and we would dance and laugh. Those were some really wonderful times. I think he kept the ledger in his dresser where he kept his checks, and for 34 years I’ve kept it in my jewelry box. It’s just a small, two-sided piece of paper, but it’s got his handwriting and it brings back so many memories. He was a very loving and giving man and a great father. I miss getting advice from him. He was very common sense.

—Michelle Knight