When we have people over, questions about the jukeboxes are bound to come up. They're pretty much in every room of the house.

Where did you get them? Why do you have so many? What even is it?

I should probably print out a little business card with all the answers and just give it to whoever walks through the front door. It would save at least a half hour of my time. But the thing is, I like talking about them, even if they're technically not my stories to share. My father started it all, and if you get him talking, well let's just say you better not have any dinner plans.

We've had jukeboxes and more vinyl records than I can count for as long as I can remember, and thanks to my dad, the collection keeps growing. Every now and then, he'll come home with a smile and say "Girls, I bought more 45s." And while I say "more?" I really think about how excited I am to find out who he brought who this time; is it Janis Joplin? Frank Sinatra? Bobby Darin? Or an artist I've never even heard before? I think that's where my love of music came from. I remember dancing with my sisters to the jukebox in the living room, late into the night. I'm surprised, with the amount of dancing we did, that I'm such a horrible dancer now (really, you don't want to see). Watching home videos - thanks Mom for endlessly recording - I can relive those memories, because as I began to age, nights with the jukebox were limited. Every now and then, however, my dad will still throw it on, and those are my favorite nights. He'll sing along and bob his head in a silly way to get us girls to laugh. And it makes me feel like the child in me won't ever go away. Not really. Not as long as the jukebox plays.

I think it was the jukeboxes and vinyl records (and the 10 years of piano lessons) that inspired me to write and record my own music. Although I've been writing for years, lately I feel as though I'm beginning to find my style, and it's more jazzy and bluesy than I could have imagined. I'm starting to experiment with different sounds on the piano and riffs in the vocals, and I'm liking what I'm hearing. And I thank my dad and his music for that.

If I hadn't grown up around Dean Martin, The Beatles, and other classic artists, I know a piece of me would be missing. It helped create a part of me that I really don't know who I'd be without. Music is a form of escapism and self-expression, and I think it's important for everyone to find their own type of such: whether it's through art or sports or underwater basket weaving. No judgement here.

So I hope my future husband has a thing for 50s and 60s music, because in our future home, jukeboxes are sure to make multiple appearances. And he might get tired of hearing The Supremes, but I'll tell him: "Honey, make sure you thank my dad for that."