MOM & DAD

THANKS GUYS

My parents were your classic, no-fuss, loving duo. They worked hard, loved harder, and gave us what they could—and what we actually needed. There were always great Christmas presents under the tree, my brother and I each had a car to drive to school (a very big deal in our teenage minds), and we took simple, sunny holidays to places that didn’t break the bank but still gave us tan lines and memories.

What they really gave us, though, was a sense of responsibility, accountability, and the age-old wisdom that you only have what you can afford. That stuck with me. So, naturally, the minute I could get a job—I did. I wanted my own money, my own say, and that delicious slice of independence they always encouraged in me.

Because let’s be honest: isn’t that every parent’s dream? That their kids grow up to be better off than they were?

I went to school in NYC and, well… I never really came back. Sure, I made the holiday appearances—turkey at Thanksgiving,  egg nog at Christmas—but even those visits were about owning the independence they helped plant in me. Did they want me home more often? Of course. But they also got it. They got me.

Most of my adult life has been all about my career. That’s no secret. My parents see that, they support it—but every now and then, there’s a gentle nudge (or an eye-roll-laced comment) reminding me to take some personal time. Live a little, as they’d say.

The truth? My parents and I are pretty different in a lot of ways. But who I am—my core values, my work ethic, my foundation—that’s all them. They gave this kid a strong start, and I’ve been building on it ever since.