My father’s day came early this year in the form of a beautiful forest-green Fender Jazz Bass that Tracie knew I had been wanting for the little recording studio I’ve been building. Man, it’s sweet!

But I haven’t been able to play it at all since I brought it home on Thursday. Not one lick.

And that’s the best part: Georgia, 14-going-on-15 and soon to be high schooler, has spent every free moment of her weekend playing and practicing the songs she’s been working on.

For as long as I live, I’ll never forget the moment and the feeling when I set her and her bass up with her favorite guitar strap: a hand-stitched, star-spangled strap from Austin, Texas, that my lucky Telecaster wore when I lived in NYC and used to tour the country with a couple of different bands.

As soon as I finished tinkering with the strap locks, she got out her Green Day photo book to show me: the guitar player has a strap just like hers.

I thought I was going to melt. What a great father’s day this has already been.

Happy father’s day to all the dads, to all the families, all around!

(I’ll get my hands on the bass tomorrow while she’s at music camp…)