My Father Died, So I Started A Puppet Show on YouTube

Grief takes many forms—even a mustachioed dummy.

My father died on January 21st, 2025. I’ll spare you the details of his last days in the hospital and his gruesome demise because I don’t want to go back there. It pains me, but it’s time to turn the page. I don’t think he would like me walking around in a gloomy malaise, constantly using his death as an excuse not to get things done.

I did all the things expected of a grieving son. I drank heavily, I wept, and I holed myself in a room watching endless hours of mindless television in his honor, but after his memorial and my speech, which incidentally brought the house down, forward is the only direction.

I’ll never forget Dad. He was a brilliant man who was always ten steps ahead of me, no matter how clever I thought I was. I based my life on what he thought of me, and now that he’s gone, I feel like I owe him something more than what I gave him while he was alive.

Coming out of grief is a perplexing thing. I can’t speak for everyone, but there was an intense feeling of guilt for me. I thought it was my duty to carry a visible sadness for the rest of my life, and when I started feeling better, I felt like I betrayed him. This was a temporary feeling, however.

I know that Dad wouldn’t expect that. He was famous for never wanting anyone to make a fuss over him. He’d tell me he’s at peace now and wants me to do something significant, so I decided to honor him the only way I know how: doing something weird.

I started a puppet show on YouTube called “The Uncle Ronnie Show.” I bought a swarthy, mustachioed hand puppet on Amazon, and when it arrived, I had the voice down pat. He’s gruff, no-nonsense, and thoroughly old-school.

Ronnie hails from Metairie, Louisiana, right outside of New Orleans. Otherwise known as “The Westbank” or “The Wank,” to those in the know, it’s a unique blend of working-class values and reckless drinking. The traditions and community in the Westbank remain strong to this day, and Ronnie represents those people.

I made my first video over the weekend and posted it to YouTube. While it’s not exactly going viral, I found the process cathartic. It keeps me busy…