Rashied Ali

"And now the purple dusk of twilight time

Steals across the meadows of my heart

High up in the sky the little stars climb

Always reminding me that we're apart

You wander down the lane and far away

Leaving me a song that will not die

Love is now the stardust of yesterday

The music of the years gone by."

My Father and I sang this song in the car on the way home from a family trip; we always listened to music in the car everywhere we traveled. I know all the music for hundreds of songs because of my Father. He gave me the treasure of song and this has given me countless precious moments in my life. But I can't begin to list all that he has given me and all that I have learned from him. It is too great and vast, and still I continue to discover new meanings behind his words, gestures, and touch. My Father loved me beyond reason! He stood solidly by my side throughout my life no matter what position I took, allowing me to make mistakes while continuing to support me. There are countless examples, but I remember my first conscious awareness of this feeling when he stood shoulder to shoulder with me against the principal of my school after starting a food fight in 4th grade. After school that day I wrote a 10-page diary entry detailing every minute, never to forget. To know that I always had my Father next to me on my path through life was a powerful moment for a 10 year old.

For our family Dad was the sun. We all orbited around him because he provided the spark of life to every family meal, every conversation, every family moment. There was a liveliness and excitement he brought in these moments that made family events so entertaining. You never knew what would happen next, you never laughed so hard, for so long, or so 'heartedly.' I will always have my Father's face in mind when he would say to us, "I'm the greatest drummer in the world." He said it to the point where this became our family mantra. Every time he said it, there was a sparkle in his eye and huge smile spread across his face. He'd wait for agreement from my sister, Mother or me, and you could see in his face how he derived his confidence and strength to be who he was. We gave him countless "Greatest Father of the World" greeting cards for Father's day and birthdays.

To me he was the greatest everything: father, husband, brother, son, drummer and man. He walked with a sure step through his life, blazing a path for our family, and always showing us that we are loved.