Vanessa Mitchell

Dad and I have been up to some fun 😎  I’m taking work off during December to invest time with him, and asked in a private Facebook group about local ideas. I was surprised to get HUNDREDS of people suggesting…

Another adventure with Dad in the books!  Julie FW, beautiful both inside and out, reached out saying her husband is a Search and Rescue Swimmer with one of the Navy helicopter squadrons. 💪🏼 🚁  

They offered to bring us on…

Vicki, a stranger until several weeks ago said, “If you bring him to Las Vegas, I can arrange a UFC fight.”

Well, my dad is currently in the most significant fight of his life, so he might as well get…

"Optimist = Someone who figures that taking a step backward after taking a step forward is not a disaster, it's the cha-cha." ―Robert Brault

Essentially, Dad is dancing right now.  Some days are great, others not so much.

Chemo takes…

That Christmas was different.

We lingered in the kitchen.

Exchanging looks as if to say, “It’s not the same… I know.”

I thought maybe Dad would be able to come downstairs that day – weak, but able.

He was weak…

In my parent’s backyard, I fumbled trying to light the outdoor fireplace that often goes unused.

Chairs placed in a half-circle, blankets on standby.

It was the day before New Year’s Eve and I was trying to create ambiance.

I’m…

Every summer growing up, Dad would take us to local cemeteries around the world whenever we were on vacation.

“Dad, this is SO creepy.”

He would say:
“It’s not… it’s filled with stories.”

He loved human-interest stories. I bet he…

When I was a teenager, my dad used to go to bed early so he could wake up before anyone else and enjoy the quiet of the house.

My mom, Derek, and I always stayed up late after midnight.

I…

At breakfast, the server came up to us and I asked him if he was celebrating the day.

His eyes glistened as he said, “No, I lost my dad the first week of January this year… it’s a tough day…

✈️ Currently in Nashville to complete the final bucket list trip I was supposed to share with my Dad in February.

(But January happened…)

So I’m doing this alone and DECIDED it’s going to be amazing.

Gently nudging myself to…

A daily family circle is composed of people who each play a specific role.

Last year in ours, Dad was the oldest at 73, all the way down to Liv who was 3.

Even with Liv being ”new”, I could…

🎈 Immediately after I wished Dad ‘Happy Birthday’ while sitting alone on my porch, a single leaf slowly fell to the ground from the tree across from me.  🍁

I tried to see beauty in the symbolism.

But it doesn’t…

“Your heart knows the way. Run in that direction.” -Rumi

At 39, I finally had something to say.

This collection of original songs is being released today on the 1 year anniversary of my Dad’s passing – Ritualizing aspects of…