After being ill for a long time, my mom passed away. She was my biggest advocate with regards to my desire to study music despite the loud protestations of my father. For this I am eternally grateful.

Prior to the funeral, the minister had a meeting with the family to get a feel for the woman Hilda was. I told him of the struggle I had with my father over my choice of music as my lifelong love and how my mom was on my side. He immediately said that I should consider performing at the funeral.

Initially, I felt as though it would shift the focus away from mom and towards me. He persisted and said it would be very special.

Karen and I agreed that since mom and dad were huge Sinatra fans, I should perform Sinatra songs. So, the night before the funeral, I whipped together renditions of 'Something Stupid' and 'Strangers In The Night'.

I had instruments with me, but no amp. We did not know if electrical power would be available at grave side, either.

Karen made a couple of phone calls, and it was discovered that a local music store agreed to provide a bass amp for no charge. The cemetery agreed to provide an electric source. So, it was on assuming everything worked.

The battery powered inverter worked with the bass amp and all was set.

The minister, after his opening remarks, had me perform one song, 'Something Stupid'. I watched Karen as I played. It was a very moving experience.

I sat down, and the minister continued. As he spoke of my mom, I became more and more unglued and no longer did I feel like performing. However, he concluded and asked me for the second song. I went up there and as the pro that I am, I played 'Strangers In The Night'. I was losing it as I played but got through. It was the hardest thing I've ever had to do.

With my mom in her casket right there, and my dad in the ground right there as well, I realized that playing these songs at this time was a celebration of what was good about their marriage, that without the music of Sinatra, Karen and I might not be here.

The minister was right, it was very special indeed.