I Paid My Father $250 in Rent Every Month for Five Years. After His Funeral, His Best Friend Gave Me a Key and a Box.

Sometimes it was a way to preserve a person.

After Elaine left, Pete asked what I intended to do about the studio’s name.

Northline had been Dad’s band, not mine.

Keeping it would honor his history, but I was allowed to build my own.

I chose Open Door Recording.

The name came from something Mom used to say when I was frightened of trying something new: You can always come back through the door.