My earliest memory in life was when I was about two years old, in our backyard in Seattle Washington. I was playing in the pool and my mom was laying out in a lawn chair. Hunger Strike was blasting in the background. My dad was working on his car close by and turned to me and said “Are you goin hungry sweetie?” Chris’s voice and that song always take me back to a very happy time in my life. Chris continued to be the background music throughout my entire childhood, teen years, and eventually adult life.

I was always so thankful that such amazing music played a big part in my life, thanks to my parents who had such a deep love for that early 90s Seattle scene, they were living in the heart of it after all. 9 months ago I surprised my mom with tickets to Temple of the Dog in Seattle on November 20th. It was one of the best nights of my entire life. It was so special for both of us, and to be able to share that night together is something I’ll never forget. We laughed, we cried, and we sang our hearts out until the very end when he sang our favorite song, All Night Thing which he dedicated to his beautiful wife who couldn’t be there that evening. After we got home, I couldn’t stop thinking about how inspired and touched I felt by that evening and finally getting to see someone live whom I idolized so much.

I had always loved to sing but I decided to go buy a guitar and start taking lessons the following week, and it has changed my life forever. Now I sit here, 25 years old, and I have finally found my passion. It has brought so much joy to my life. The very first song I learned on guitar was I Am The Highway. In a way, I feel like Chris helped me find the music in me… and although there are so many things I could thank him for, I feel like that one might mean the most to him…it sure as hell means the most to me. Not a day goes by that I don’t think about the impact his beautiful gift had on my life, and I will miss him forever. From the bottom of my heart, thank you Chris. And to his family, I offer my deepest condolences. You are all in my thoughts, and I wish you all the love and healing my heart can offer.

Love Always,

Makenzi