Mark Barger

It's been a tough couple of days. I received news of my father's passing on Wednesday this week. Since then, I've been in wonderment, thinking about this timeline and my place in it and this huge space in my story that my father has occupied.

This is Melvin Jeffrey Barger, my father. I want you to see him. No one person has had more impact on who and what I am than him. I modeled much of my character after him. He is the one who put the guitar in my hands. I am very much everything that I am because of, and as a reaction to him.

My dad loved Jesus. That's the first thing I want you to know. That's what he would want you to know. He loved God, he read the Bible, and he sought with every fiber the creator God of the universe who lives in the Bible. He spoke about it long and often. It came up in every conversation. That's who he was and I respect him for it.

If he were here talking to you instead of me, he would impart to you the importance of making your life right with God and living in a way that seeks righteousness. This was his message, and since he is not here to give it any longer, I would like to do him the honor of sending his message forward.

It's been hard to rationalize his absence. However, I do not consider this a loss. It's strange how it is working in my head. My father's great wish was to meet his God, and he believed it with every fiber of his heart. I am happy for him for making his choice and having a meaningful pursuit in life and truly loving it. And now, at the end of his journey, I hope he gets what he lived for. I hope he meets his creator and is welcomed just as he had dreamed and believed. In this way, I can't be sad for him. I see this as another stage of his journey. I wish him well and I hope that he is welcomed home with open, loving arms. He deserves to know what that feels like.

I want to say some things about him, but it's hard to know where to go next.

He wore Old Spice after shave. He listened to oldies 92.9 out of Fresno, California. He owned a construction company called Iron Horse. He dug foundations for houses and commercial buildings, but later he became a general construction manager who people paid to build houses. He was exceptional at this. He could build just about anything. He was great with designing furniture. I got none of these skills. He was a western type of man. He would eat eggs and bacon every morning if he could. He used to make us oat meal for breakfast. Now, I make my kid oat meal every morning.

A veitnam war veteran, my dad saw a lot of tragedy in his life, shouldered a lot sadness, and worked nearly until his last day. He wasn't one to sit around much. This made his later years tough on him. I think it frustrated him to have to slow down.

To have known him was to love him. If he was sitting next to you, he would've spoken to you in a way that made you feel as if you were the center of universe for that moment. He would've impacted you in some way by the end of the conversation and probably left you smiling. Young people loved him. So did children, animals, and the elderly; even strangers would be strangely drawn to him. In that way, he was kind of an Earth angel, that he was here to soothe and guide weary souls on their journey.

So many people knew my dad. He was highly yet humbly influential, and he may not have even known it. He sought the adoration of his fellows, but I don't think he recognized that he had recieved it in full. I wish he could've known how much people loved him. When I speak about him, I understand that so many others have their own experience with him and therefore, see him differently than I do. I got my small slice of dad and others got theirs, and I am glad that they did. He didn't come here to not make a big splash. I am glad for whatever experience others had with him.

I am glad to have known him and I am happy to be his son and one of his children. I am happy for what I received of him and I appreciate what I am because of him.

But now his time here is done. I feel this with a bit of relief for him. He fought the darkness for so long, I am glad to see him get a break. I love him. This world won't see his like again. They don't make humans like my father anymore.

I thank you for hearing me to the end. I appreciate your time.

Journey well, pop.

https://bnds.us/qmh1wn

Check out these summer dates coming up!

Mark Barger Tour Dates Get your tickets to see Mark Barger live.

Tonight at Lindbergh's Tavern, I will need playing a set of my own music. Join me from 7 to 8.

Check out these events this month!

March schedule:

Friday, Mar 15 (7-10pm)
Roost Bar & Grill

Saturday, Mar 16 (7-11pm)
Bamboozled Tiki Bar and Grill | Mark Barger

Saturday, Mar 23 (6-9pm)
Wire Road Brewing

Sunday, Mar 24 (7-8pm)
Queen City Shout @ Lindbergh's

Saturday, Mar 30 (9-12pm)
The Vault Bar and Grill, DT Springfield

As I close out the end of the year, having my last couple of shows this weekend, I am reflecting on the abundance I've experienced. I have had the privilege to perform 97 events, gigs, and shows, both public, private, and corporate through 2023. That's a lot of nights and weekends.

If you have participated in any of these, I thoroughly appreciate you. I've met and interacted with so many excellent people. Thank you for sharing your time and your stories with me.

As we move into this next year, I look forward to seeing all of you again. When you are looking for live music to spice up your night or to simply relax after a tough week, come join me for some good vibes and great tunes.

You can find my dates right here on FB, on Reverbnation, bandsintown, or on my website www.markbargermusic.com.

Have a happy holiday and a prosperous new year. Lots of love. ❤️

Mark Barger Springfield, MO guitarist, singer-songwriter, and loop artist.