Column: Thanks for Listening

Has it been almost two years since I did an interview with you, Tayler?

Tayler: “Dad, it was when you had knee surgery.”

Ah, I remember. It has only been one year and nine months. Well, it is time again as we were going to do one every year so we could see how much you had evolved over time.

“Evolved?”

Tayler laughs and states she is not a dinosaur.

I asked her if she wanted to interview again and she happily obliged. (Tayler is 17, so “happily” means saying yes.)

My daughter is now a senior. Tayler is a music nut and wants to make music her life. We are currently looking at specialty music schools she can attend that have her majoring in both audio productions along with becoming a music producer. Tayler wants to work on the non-glory side of the music world.

Now to say Tayler and I differ in our likes of music would be kind, but I will have to say that she has gotten me to expand my musical knowledge, and I have grown to like some of her bands and songs from them. I actually like talking with her about music because a lot of what is popular now are remixes and covers of the music I grew up on.

As Tayler says: “I can’t just listen to music, it has to have meaning. Music gets me through a lot of stuff.”

Like bad parenting?

“Just from you, Dad.”

Since we spoke with Tayler last, she has gotten to go on a magical musical tour. Let the interview proceed:

Me: Tayler, what musical highlights have happened over the last year and a half?

Taylor: I got to meet Blessthefall, Atreyu and Linkin Park this year!

A few other cool highlights have been going to concerts.

Concerts I’ve been to:

1. Blink 182

2. Atreyu with Blessthefall, Chiodos and Architects.

3. Linkin Park

4. A Day To Remember with We Came As Romans, Pierce the Veil and Bring Me The Horizon.

5. Vans Warped Tour 2011

What are some of your favorite songs?

I have quite a few

Favorite songs:

1. “Running Up That Hill” by Placebo.

2. “House of the Rising Sun” by The Animals.

3. “2nd Sucks” by A Day To Remember.

4. “Broken Statues” by We Came As Romans.

5. “Sorry, You’re Not A Winner” by Enter Shikari.

Hey, no Johnny Cash? What?

Dad, I do like Cash, but these are my type of songs.

Wow. Tayler, do you like anything other than music?

Yes.

Like what?

Well, I do love horror movies and my favorites are “Halloween,” “The Hills Have Eyes” and “Insidious.”

Yikes.

Dad, quit it.

My favorite movies are:

1. “Stand By Me.”

2. “Never Let Me Go.”

My favorite TV shows are:

1. “Desperate Housewives.”

2. “Ghost Adventures.”

My favorite quotes:

1. “My future started with the first note that I ever played.” — We Came As Romans.

2. “Everything is OK in the end. If it’s not OK, it’s not the end.”

3. “To move on is to grow.” — We Came As Romans.

Name a few more of your favorites?

Favorite food: Mom’s soup. (The one she makes the day after Thanksgiving.)

Favorite holiday: Christmas.

What about a pet peeve of yours?

I do not like mean and rude people.

What are you excited about coming up in your senior year?

Graduating.

Oh, wait lots of stuff like senior pictures and a cool graduation party with family.

So, you are going to graduate?

Very funny, Dad. Yes, I am, and I know you and Mom are going to cry at graduation.

Tears of joy.

I heard that!

I am looking forward to this year — a lot.

I am glad, honey. Anything else you want to add?

Yes. I want to say that I am excited to move and go to school somewhere else, like Nashville, Orlando or Phoenix.

Oh, and we got a new cat a few months ago named Larry. Molly and Scout, our dogs, like him, and they sort of all fit together. (Molly is our chocolate Lab, and Scout is our puggle.) I love when Larry eats dog food and when the dogs eat kitty food. It is too funny.

Any last-minute interview additions?

Yes. My hero is your dad, Grandpa Richard.

That is a nice addition. Thanks.

Tribune Publisher Scott Schmeltzer’s column appears every Thursday.