Marc W
My father immigrated to the US in the 1950s with his parents when he was a small boy. Holland was still recovering from the Second World War, and opportunities seemed limited. Adding to the economic challenges, my father was the product of a relationship that was scandalous for the time: my grandfather came from a strict Catholic family and my grandmother from a strict Mormon family, akin to Shakespeare's Capulets and Montagues.
As a boy learning English in school, my father endured cruelty from peers and had to work harder than most to achieve his milestones. However, he had one significant talent: music. Encouraged in his musicianship, he chose the trombone at a very young age and practiced classical music incessantly. What he lacked in social status, he made up for with his hard work and accomplishments as a musician.
After college, he secured a position as the principal trombonist in the local opera and ballet orchestra. To further enhance our family's financial stability, he also became an instrumental music instructor in the local public school system. For decades, my father juggled teaching music in public schools, practicing for hours daily to maintain his skills, and working evenings for rehearsals and performances. There were times when he would come home only for a few minutes to eat and change into his tuxedo, not returning until very late.
Despite his accomplishments, my father remained humble, grounded, and engaged with his family. He never indulged in a lavish lifestyle, preserving our family's financial security and perhaps protecting us from the hardships his parents endured in Holland. His lessons and example of hard work, tempered with a strong focus on family, are lessons I will be forever grateful for.
Submitted by Anonymous
