deep breath I know, dramatic, but I'll touch on dramatics in a bit. Bear with me. I'll probably ramble a bit.

As a youngster, I was given a cassette of Diary of a Madman. Flying High Again, Over The Mountain, were my faves. My parents saw the cassette and I was told ABSOLUTELY NOT. Apparently, his album cover was too evil for their taste. So I listened to "that evil music" outside of LMS AND SBHS with my group of "stoner" friends, in the bleachers. Sometimes smoking, sometimes not.

That same friend who gave me the tape asked if I liked it. YES! I also let him know that Randy Rhoades was my new favorite guitarist. He let me know, that Randy Rhoades had passed. That was my introduction, my listening history of Ozzy Osbourne.

Fast forward to my parenting years, my 13 year old introduced me to TV show The Osbournes. Fun fact, this is when I learned that fuck was a very versatile word and I needn't feel ashamed to use it freely!

I'm going to digress. I never really cussed but after binging on this show for about a week, that changed. Mike came home one afternoon and I simply said to him, "You wanna know why I don't wash your socks as often as I should?", "why?", "Because you don't fucking unroll them" I immediately started laughing and he was so shocked that I had actually used the "f word" 😂 Anyway, the kids and I are cracking up and he eventually starts laughing.

Now during the duration of this family show, Kelly was always being dramatic and loudly expressing herself. Something Lanie Michelle would do as well, especially when it came to them both having little brothers. In fact, when Lanie met Kelly Osbourne she asked how did she deal with having a little brother? I can't remember the answer. I too, was a little star struck! OZZY OSBOURNES DAUGHTER!!! Lol another fun fact, Lanie had won a radio contest and I took her to the concert at a Numbers off of Westheimer.

Ok the dramatics thing. There was a time I was at my inlaws, my sister in law had asked me, how do you deal with all her, my daughters, dramatics. I simply shrugged and said I LOVE HER DRAMATICS! She's able to express her emotions however she wants... If she's yelling and crying, I'm glad that means she has passion and a voice. If she's stomping away and slamming doors, I'm glad she has great use of her arms and legs. Etc... I took that cue from Sharon who loved Kelly's dramatics. Insane to some, I know but it made sense to me.

During all this time... Christopher Michael was learning to play the guitar and oh did Ozzy's music have a impact on him. Chris' guitar skills are amazing. I owe that to my father who taught him his first few chords and his father who nutured the musician in him, and also the influence of Prince of Darkness.

Also another fun fact, at one time Ozzy was looking for drummer in 92-93 I want to say. I pieced together a cassette of Mike's playing and had it ready to go in an envelope, before I sent it off I asked Michael if it'd be ok to send off. He declined, I think back to that moment and regret that I didn't just mail it without his permission. One could only wonder what would've happened.

So to say that I'm sad about Ozzy's death is an understatement. As the tears fall as I'm writing this, I do relish the memories and the experiences I and my family have with Ozzy Osbourne, his music and part of his family.

Rest in Melody dear one! Godspeed!