I got my inspiration this week after spending an hour sitting on the floor with my dad, looking through my vinyl collection and watching old concert footage. Both of us had long days, but I had just found a new album that I'd been hunting down for quite some time, U2's The Joshua Tree. We sat and just listened together, both appreciating the distinct sound that can only be found on vinyl. It may seem like a small thing, but it's times like these that I'm especially thankful for my dad.

My dad is my biggest fan and he is always there when I need him, even for the smallest of things. Most of all, he's my number one pal. Throughout my life, one of the biggest constants in our relationship has been music. When I was little I used to tag along every time he had to run an errand, or I'd sit outside and watch him work while the radio played. A song would come on and we'd always play our game of "guess who." Sometimes it was George Strait on a country station, and other times it would be Fleetwood Mac, Aerosmith, or Bruce Springsteen on the classic rock station. As a kid, I could name any song or band after hearing just a few notes.

As I got older, I began to realize how much my dad influenced my taste in music. I chose to listen to classic rock rather than the popular fluff music that most of my friends listened to, and I realized that most of the newer bands I took an interest in were heavily influenced by or sounded very similar to the bands I listened to with my dad.

One of my favorite memories of all time is seeing Fleetwood Mac in concert with my dad about a year ago. I got him tickets for Father's Day, and we spent the months leading up to the concert with his 4 disc Fleetwood Mac boxed set on repeat. Both of us were a little apprehensive considering how old the members of the band are now, but Stevie Nicks and Lindsey Buckingham's voices were still magic together. Not long after the concert, I bought my record player. The first album I got to start my collection was Rumours.

Now, my vinyl collection has grown and now includes various genres. I've got albums such as Michael Jackson's Thriller, Abbey Road by the Beatles, Aerosmith's Toys in the Attic, Springsteen's Born in the USA, and other albums from artists like Little River Band, James Taylor, Hall and Oates, Frank Sinatra, and Van Morrison. Every time I bring a new one home, I show my dad and we listen together. I've also influenced his taste as well, introducing him to bands like Coldplay, Kings of Leon, Mumford and Sons, and John Mayer. Though he'd never admit it, he also enjoys the occasional TSwift jam session. At the end of the summer, we are going to Coldplay's A Head Full of Dreams Tour in Pittsburgh!

I'll never forget how, one evening a year or two ago, my dad was out working in the garage and a song came on. My dad asked me if I knew who it was, and in just a few notes I guessed correctly... Led Zeppelin. Impressed, he looked at me and said, "I think, if we'd have gone to high school together, we would have been best friends." It's one of the best compliments he's ever given me.