It is never too late to make your dreams come true......

Back in May I blogged about my Grandad coming to visit and about the plans for him to get up on stage and sing with KHP.  Well that day has come and gone, It was about a 3 and a half minute block of time in our set, but it was an experience that I will never forget!

In the past few years, since I started getting back into music, I talk to my Grandad on a regular basis on the phone to keep him updated on what is going on with the band.  He confessed to me that he has always dreamed to be an entertainer.  If you know my Grandad, then it is no secret that he loves to sing.  He used to sing to my Mom when she was a kid, and she sang those same songs to me when I was a kid.  But what he often asked me, is what it feels like to be on stage and have a group of people cheer for you.  Well I have told him how that felt to me, but I really wanted him to experience that for himself.  Not just so that he can understand what things are like for me, but because I wanted him to have that experience for himself.  After playing the song, I really feel like he got to have that experience.

I told the story about the song, the meaning behind it, and invited him up on stage.  Everyone cheered as he was approaching the stage and when I introduced him, but the best part was when it came time for his part, he started to sing and I was watching him.  As soon as he sang the first line, the crowd started cheering like crazy.  I don't think he was expecting it because as soon as they did that, it completely threw him off.  He had a big grin on his face and couldn't remember the words.  It made me smile to watch him knowing how it feels to have people cheer like that.  It took me back to a time when I was nervous to get on stage and every crowd response would send me into the jitters.

He picked it up for the second chorus and sang it just as we had practiced.  After the song was finished, I took the microphone from him and thanked him.  He gave me a hug, told me he loved me, and walked off stage.  He was beaming as he walked down the isle and the crowd cheered for him.

At the time I was so wrapped up in how fun and exciting it was, but in hind sight I am so touched.  It was such an honor to be able to realize a dream that my Grandad has always had, and I can not put into words what an amazing experience it was for me to share the stage with my grandfather.

Thank you Grandad for giving me this experience.  Thank you for all of your support, I love how much you love what I do, and I will never forget and will always appreciate how you have guided me into everything I do as a musician.  If pride is a sin, then send me to hell because I could not be any more proud than I am now!

Before I end this blog, I want to share with you the message that the owner of the venue sent me after the show:

"That was Epic Kristian, Very Special. Will post pictures soon to share. Honored to have that memorable moment happen on Mojos stage. And the song was awesome, even provoked a tear" - Ron, owner of Mojos.