To be honest, at times I thought you were too controlling.  Now I'm hoping this is all a big joke and you're going to call me out for saying that about you.  The truth is, I needed you to kick my butt into gear.  "Grace in Rotation" might not have happened without your full-speed-ahead attitude and your total dedication.  I was afraid to have anyone else's hands in my music, I was afraid it would change the sound, the messages, in the songs.  Now I'm grateful for the parts of you audible throughout the album.  I'm thankful to have a piece of you now that you're gone.

You always said that you've been accused of "listening to grass grow."  You always said that with such pride...because it's true.  Your ears were fine tuned to pick out every nuance, every hesitation, every flat note.  It drove me crazy because I don't hear that way.  Your ears were not just listening to my music though, they listened to me.  When I was sad, when my heart was broken, when I was frustrated, when I was speaking bullshit, you heard it all.  When I said, "I'm starting to hate this song" after the 10th take, I heard the hurt in your voice because you were 100% dedicated.  Sometimes I think you had way more faith in me than I do.  You pushed me to try harder, who's going to push me now?

I still haven't responded to your last email "when are you going to send me the copies?"  I feel like a shmuck.  You were bending over backwards to get me connected with record labels and, like usual, I was dragging my feet.  I'm sorry.  I'm devastated about losing my good friend, my coach...always in my corner.  I could never thank you enough for the breaks you cut me, for the hours and hours of listening, for the support.  You were so talented.  I'm going to miss you, we all are going to miss you.