Alvin Hall Davenport

Hey dad, How are you doing? Tonight, I decided to listen to Scott Joplin...songs I haven't heard in over 40 years! It seems like yesterday that we were all standing around the piano in Kaysville, listening to The Entertainer on the player piano (I know you can play them all yourself!) and it felt like we all spoke the same language through music.

Thank you for the music!!

Hey dad...we have the BEST younger brothers, don't we?

Hey dad...NO one can play The Entertainer on piano the way you did! I will never forget watching your hands float effortlessly along the piano keyboard. Music, especially classical music, is forever!

Hey dad...Thank you for the music! Por este don en mi....

Hey dad...Just wish you were here... You were such a good listener.

Hey dad...Just wish you were here... You were such a good listener.

Hey dad,

I remember you telling me you have a personality that very few people can understand...well...No one understands me, either...Thank you for showing me that that's OK

Hey dad,

I remember you telling me you have a personality that very few people can understand...well...No one understands me, either...Thank you for showing me that that's OK

Hey dad,

I've been trying to learn again how to play Cribbage but no one else knows how to keep score...I'm overwhelmed trying to remember it without you! Thank you for taking the time to teach me how to play Cribbage. You somehow found the time with your busy work schedule.

Hey dad,

The music is priceless. Thank you.

Hey dad,

The music is priceless. Thank you.

Hey Dad,

I wish I could have given you the music that you gave to me

Gracias por la musica...Por este don en mi

Hey Dad,

I wish I could have given you the music that you gave to me

Gracias por la musica...Por este don en mi

Virtuoso

In Music

In Life

Gracias por la musica.

Por eso quiero dar las gracias, por este don en mí.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kSE15tLBdso

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S72g3PcSxNA

Hey dad, it's Lis here again. I keep listening to just the piano accompaniment part to Boccharini's Minuet and I am always completely amazed at how in the world you were able to keep all of those complex notes together, and at the same time, let me lead the tempo. During that time (the 1980s) the only thing I had to worry about was my part. How selfish was I?! Looking back, my part was SO easy compared to yours!! My part was nothing compared to what you played!!! You should have never been in the background! The same goes for life...You encouraged every little thing I did, even if you thought I should do something else. I could never have done what you did. Not in a million years! You had a quiet strength in letting me know that I am good enough.

You had an uncanny way of explaining how real life works. So now, I sit here thinking that my part could have never happened without your accompaniment. You truly had the most difficult parts in music and in life. They will never sound the same without you.

You were my accompanist in life...Both literally and figuratively...

Thank you for the music, Dad!!!

Hey Dad, I can't believe it's already been one earthly year since you celebrated your first year in Heaven.

During this life, you had a lot of amazing thoughts & opinions, plus great advice that you mostly kept to yourself...but it means so much to me that whenever I asked you questions or I told you what I thought about life in general, you listened. You carefully listened and said, "I know. Oh, I get it..."

You listening to me spoke louder than any words...

Hey Dad...Thank you for the Music...No matter how many things we disagreed about, you ALWAYS wanted to hear my opinion...You Mean the World to me... The value of a good listener is exemplified by you.

Hey dad, it's Lis...6 days ago, I wanted to wish you a Happy Birthday and Happy Farter's Day too...:)

You always understood more than this life ever gave you credit for...

Hey dad...I remember having a little competition between us (I don't remember who started it...) to see who could read the Bible from start to end first. I'm pretty sure you won! Maybe I can try again this year... :)

Hey dad... Thanks. Miss your cynical humor so much.

Hey dad, "I wanna go home..."

Hey dad! I remember many years of going to the Kaysville block parties...no matter how many horrific hours you worked as a pharmacist, you always showed up and you were there in your own quiet way. Even when you weren't in the mood or you felt uncomfortable in social situations, you knew how to smile and laugh at the subtle innuendos. Somehow, I remember walking around the "circle" on 50 West 575 North during our block parties. That circle had the Arkousas', Coles, Youngs, StJeors, Seelys... I could see you from across the street in a crowd with a quiet smile on your face.

Hey dad...remember watching Perry Mason with me on the old black & white TV?

Thank you for the music, dad!

Hey dad! I know you're still here...somewhere...I know things will be ok...somehow...I know this ABBA song is a classic...somewhat... lol :)

So, this really sums up the amazing music you gave us...because words are so much harder to articulate!!

ABBA: Thank You for the Music

"I'm nothing special, in fact I'm a bit of a bore

If I tell a joke, you've probably heard it before

But I have a talent, a wonderful thing

'Cause everyone listens when I start to sing

I'm so grateful and proud

All I want is to sing it out loud

So I say

Thank you for the music, the songs I'm singing

Thanks for all the joy they're bringing

Who can live without it, I ask in all honesty

What would life be?

Without a song or a dance what are we?

So I say thank you for the music

For giving it to me

Mother says I was a dancer before I could walk

She says I began to sing long before I could talk

And I've often wondered, how did it all start?

Who found out that nothing can capture a heart

Like a melody can?

Well, whoever it was, I'm a fan

So I say

Thank you for the music, the songs I'm singing

Thanks for all the joy they're bringing

Who can live without it, I ask in all honesty

What would life be?

Without a song or a dance what are we?

So I say thank you for the music

For giving it to me

I've been so lucky, I am the girl with golden hair

I wanna sing it out to everybody

What a joy, what a life, what a chance!

Thank you for the music, the songs I'm singing

Thanks for all the joy they're bringing

Who can live without it, I ask in all honesty

What would life be?

Without a song or a dance what are we?

So I say thank you for the music

For giving it to me

So I say thank you for the music

For giving it to me!"

Thank you for the music, Dad... :)

Hey dad! Remember that old green Ford LTD with the white top? Or that white Riviera? I think we could actually play 8-track tapes in them...?!!!

"...So I say thank you for the music, the songs I'm [playing.] Thanks for all the joy they're bringing...Who can live without it? I ask in all honesty, what would life be? Without a song or a dance, what are we? So I say thank you for the music, for giving it to me."

It's the only language I truly understand

Hey dad...can you please watch over my little brother? He tries so hard and helps others SO much...

I wish so much I could be playing the violin with you right now. You truly gave our family the gift of art and music. I remember and miss the real you.

Hey dad...no matter how many 5-star steak restaurants I could go to, nothing will ever be as amazing as Sizzler in Layton, UT, with you sitting across from us, raving about how great A-1 sauce is...then topping the night off with you rebelliously blowing "spitwads" at us from your straw and saying, "I'm only trying to teach you what NOT to do in a restaurant!" Aunt Betty was right in pointing out the many mischievous deeds of my dad! LOL

Hey dad. I just had one of my favorite road trips to see Brian in Utah. It's been a long time since I've been back to my home state and this trip was actually very amazing and positive. I wish you could have been there with us! We had a great time together. Please watch over my little Brother. He's such a valuable soul....thank you

Hey dad. I can't seem to keep my violin in tune. Every time I think I got it right, my A string tuner slips. How can I keep it in tune...??

Hey dad. It's Lis. It would be really great to be able to talk to the real you again. I don't have much to remember you by, in terms of physical things, but I have so many intangible things that are priceless...thank you. It's truly the little things that mattered.

Hey dad. I imagine it wasn't easy to take us 4 kids in the old tan/peach colored Fairmont Ford station wagon (a car that you despised!!) to Dairy Queen (DQ) for Monday's "Family Night"....Yet, you still did. I'll never forget you driving us to the Layton DQ drive-in on a Monday night and ordering us all a Dilly Bar...At the time, it was 5 for $1....!! You had to listen to all of us shout out which flavor we wanted...We would all sit in the back and "very back" of the Ford station wagon with our Dilly Bars and just loved it! The little things were so very important. Thank you for the little things...

I hope I can be generous, humble, and unpretentious like you...

How in the world were you able to accompany me on the piano?? You really had the most difficult part but you made it sound so simply beautiful! You let me play at my own pace, and you made the entire song come together so perfectly, even with all my mistakes. I'm forever indebted to you for giving me the love of music.

...Hoping, praying, waiting for the music to come back...

"I feel so broke up...I wanna go home. So hoist up the John B's sail. See how the mainsail sets. Call for the Captain ashore let me go home...I wanna go home..."

I look forward to seeing you :) :) :)

Hey dad. Tonight, I was thinking of a quote...something to the effect of, "They may forget what you said, but they will never forget how you made them feel."

During your time on earth, of all the things you said and didn't say, you always made me feel important. You made me feel confident. You made me feel talented. You made me feel strong. You made me feel independent. You made me feel like I could do anything. Every time I felt like a failure, your simple words were, "Don't worry, Lis. You'll figure it out." And when I told you my worries that people don't like or accept me, you said the same thing, "Don't worry, Lis. You'll figure it out."

You made me feel like it was OK to do nothing more than just be me.

Hey dad. I just watched an amazing spy movie tonight, set during the Cold War era. It was a true story. You would have loved it. After all, you're the one who got me interested in the 1959 movie, "North By Northwest." I couldn't help but think about the time you came to visit me in D.C. right after I had my first awful skin cancer surgery. It felt like you being there made me heal faster. I'm really thankful that while you were there, I was able to take you to the Library of Congress to show you where I was doing my thesis research. I don't remember talking a whole lot during your visits but I do remember you being there. Thank you for being there so often in your own quiet way.

Hey dad. It's Lis. Wow...what I wouldn't give to be sitting across from you in Skippers! .....The "fast food" fish & chips restaurant in Layton, Utah. You introduced me to malt vinegar on fried halibut and ever since then, it's always been one of my absolute favorites! The little things were so very important. Thank you for the little things...

Hey dad. It's Lis. One thing I remember about you is you were such a good listener. I was able to tell you what I thought about so many things, from science, to politics, to religion. You never judged me or my thoughts. You just listened. Over time, it became more difficult to verbalize my thoughts with you. But, you were always good at communicating through writing. When I lived in Nor Cal, I was so distraught about some things going on in my life at the time so I sent you an email, not really expecting a response, but it was nice to be able to write out my worries to someone. To my surprise, you responded with a typical you, simple response. Your response/advice validated my worries and helped me overcome them at the same time. Thank you for that. Thank you.

Hey dad. Lis here again. I'll always remember how you helped me make one of my high school formal dances so unique during the early 1980s. It was a "girl ask boy" dance so me and Stacey Butterfield asked two guys to go on a double date with us. You are the one who suggested that we could have a formal dinner at our house (instead of an expensive restaurant) and you offered to be our formal waiter since you had restaurant experience. I'll never forget sitting at our rectangle table in Kaysville, with my friends, while my dad served us with a white cloth towel over his arm. You were so much fun. That's the dad I remember.

Hey dad. It's Lis. I truly love and appreciate the fun things you taught me in the kitchen during the 1980s...when I got home from school and was "hungry," you would offer Bread, Butter, and Sugar! On Wonder Bread, no less....,which I don't even think qualifies as a food group with all its preservatives! But you made it so fun and "rebellious." Oh, and I really want you to know that I finally understand your fascination with a good avocado. Southern California used to be famous for them. When I was in elementary school, I was so disgusted by them and I didn't understand how you could eat them plain with salt. But now...every time I see an avocado, I think of you. It's my favorite breakfast...

Thank you for doing the best you could and for always supporting me. I miss playing games with you. I miss listening to you play the piano and organ. I am proud to be your daughter. I love you!

Miss you, dad. I'm very thankful I had the opportunity to go to Peru with you and risk our lives flying over the Nazca Lines! I don't think I'll ever do anything that crazy again!

You are the one who figured we should stay in Mira Flores, close to the ocean. Good call :) Thank you for going on that journey with me during that brief moment in time...

Hey dad. It's Lis. I miss you...the real you... Of my siblings, I was so lucky to know you first...and that's not really saying much, because anyone who knew you, knows that you didn't share much of who you were. I still don't know your favorite color! But, I always imagined it would be ocean blue, like the beautiful California coast you grew up on. I can't even think of California, the ocean, or the Beach Boys, without feeling such a loss! So many people say they didn't get to know you because you never talked much about yourself. But, that is why I DO know you. You were a reserved man. A simple man. So very private in all your personal matters. This always begged us four kids the question, "How can we really get to know our dad, who is so private?" But, unbeknownst to us, we DID know you. That WAS you. I learned that to know you was to observe, listen, and read between the lines to understand who you were.

You were accomplished, generous, and humble. You were kind and unpretentious. I am so grateful that I have so many amazing memories and I was able to know the real you for the first 25 years of my life.

You were smart, and I mean genius smart. I have always been in awe that you made it through Pharmacy school while having me as a baby at the same time. You IQ was such a blessing. But it was also a curse. You were a bright pharmacist, who knew organic chemistry and math like the back of your hand. Because of you, I knew the square root of 25 before my first day of Kindergarten! Strategic and gifted, you could outplay anyone in cards. I mean, you made sure I learned how to shuffle a deck of cards before I had my first sleepover with my friends from the 15th ward!

You were an incredibly talented musician, to whom I owe my passion for music. One of my favorite memories will always be playing the violin, with you sitting right behind me to accompany me on the piano. To calm my nerves before performance time, you always told me to play the music at my own pace, with confidence, because you were right behind me to support and follow my lead. You did the same thing for me in every aspect of life! I learned so much from such a quiet, reserved person!

As you know, dad, I was your dreaded rebel child...the black sheep...the restless spirit...and the non-conforming daughter. I always felt like the sibling on the outside of the family. But never, ever, did I feel outside my family when I was with you. I felt judged my whole life, but you never judged me. You never criticized me or put down my life endeavors. You were nothing but supportive of all my decisions. As a senior in high school, I told you I was now going to college but instead, wanted to start a regular job. You supported me and said, "Wow Lis! That is a good idea!" Even though I knew damn well you wanted me to go to college. Then, 16 years later, when I finally got my Master's Degree, you seemed to be OK with that idea too :) No matter what, you were always a quiet cheerleader in my life, and proud of who I've become.

You were always in the background as my musical accompanist. Both literally and figuratively. You were a loving grandparent to my daughters, Annalisa and Ariana. I wish so much that your great-grandson, Jude, could have known you. He could really use your cynical humor. He would have looked up to you so much!

I have missed you terribly. But now, I am comforted to know you are finally free from your physical and mental prison. I am comforted in knowing I can look forward to the day I will join you again and talk with you. The real you...Alvin Hall Davenport. Chief Pharmacist. Genius. Musician. My Dad. I hope you will reserve a place for me, your far-from-perfect-daughter, on a heavenly stage, where you will accompany me as we play Boccherini's Minuet together again.

Hey dad...