SPAZZZ26 — Anniversary Edition

Dennis James Miller Jr. — Forever 26

CHAPTER ONE

Where It All Began

On February 5, 1992 a special person was born and I named him Dennis James Miller Jr. He weighed a little over 4 lbs, wrinkled like most babies but cute none the less. Jr, even though he was a small baby, he grew to be very healthy and strong. We used to go out to dinner and anywhere it said kids under a certain age could eat free, I always had to fuss because he was only about 7 or 8 years old, but they insisted that he was over the age limit. Dennis loved to eat and was always hungry.

Dennis was not a kid that was rough or liked to rough house or very busy like most boys. Even as a child he was very laid back. Jr from about the 4th grade had the ability to attract kids that were younger than him — they always loved to be around him. Janice, his sister, was 5 years and 6 months older than him and he was on her back at all times. Wherever she went he wanted to go and she wasn't having it. He would try to go in her room and she would kick him out every time. Yeah, he was a thorn in her side. They became closer the older they got.

Jr was the kind of kid that I could take anywhere and I never had to worry that he was going to act up. When he was between the age of 3–6 years old, every morning I would wake up with him crammed in my bed next to me and his dad would say "put him back in his bed" and I would let him stay.

Jr was very independent. I remember one day I had come home from work and he said mommy can you teach me how to ride my bike without the little wheels and I said tomorrow, and the next day I said again, tomorrow. The next day I came home from work and who comes riding down the driveway yelling, "look mommy, one hand" — he had taught himself how to ride his bike. He was different. He was special.

"From the very beginning, he was full of life."

CHAPTER TWO

Becoming Spazzz

As Jr. grew older, his quiet strength and laid-back nature never left him — it only became more a part of who he was. He wasn't the loudest person in the room, but there was something about him that drew others in. He didn't have to try hard to be liked — he just was.

By his teenage years, Jr. had fully grown into himself. He carried confidence in his own way, never needing to prove anything to anyone. He moved at his own pace, did things his own way, and stayed true to who he was. That same connection he had with kids when he was younger never left him. People of all ages enjoyed being around him. He had a presence that made others feel at ease, like they could just be themselves.

Even at home, he wanted to be the leader, but there were no kings — just me, the number one Queen. He would help out in so many ways. He did laundry, cleaned the shop so it was ready for the next day, and took on responsibilities without being asked.

When Jr. turned 16, he sat me down to talk about setting a curfew. We agreed on one, and he never — not one time — came home past his curfew. When I opened my salon and worked long hours, Jr. stepped up even more. He would go grocery shopping for me. I would hand him my debit card, and he didn't need a list. He stayed within budget and didn't waste money on unnecessary things.

There was a big difference between Janice and Jr. When it came to things like dress-down day at school, Jr. would come to me and say, "Mom, is there anything I can do to earn some money? I want to buy something to wear." Janice, on the other hand, would say, "Mom, we need to go to the store — I need something to wear."

By the time he turned 16, he came to me and said, "Can you call me Spazzz?" I busted out laughing and said, "Boy, your name is Dennis James Miller, aka Jr. I'm your mother, and you will always be Jr. to me." He covered his mouth, laughed, and walked away.

Now don't get it twisted — everything wasn't always sunshine and roses. Dennis James Miller Jr. gave me a run for my money. But he was still my baby. And there is no one that loves him more than me.

Dennis young Dennis cool

These years shaped everything he would become — a son, a father, a friend, an artist, a force of nature that everyone who knew him still feels to this day.

CHAPTER THREE

The Man He Was Becoming

By 26, Spazzz had grown into someone remarkable. He had become a father to one son. His love for music had only deepened. His circle was full of people who genuinely loved him. He had dreams — big ones — and the talent to back them up. He was funny, magnetic, and real. The kind of person you wanted around.

"He had dreams — big ones — and the talent to back them up."

CHAPTER FOUR

The Last Memories

These are the photos we hold closest — laughing, living, being fully and unapologetically himself. And the people who loved him most.

CHAPTER FIVE

May 12, 2018

On May 12th, 2018, we said goodbye to our Spazzz. He was 26 years old — forever 26. The world lost a light that day that has never fully been replaced, and for those of us who loved him, everything changed.

Grief is a strange thing. It doesn't go away — it just slowly changes shape. In those first weeks and months after losing him, the question wasn't just about how to move on but about how to move him forward. People kept telling me "time heals all wounds" NO! time just allows you time to get use to them not being here and you learn to live with the memories.

The answer was SPAZZZ26.COM.

"The question wasn't just about how to move on but about how to move him forward."

When my son passed away on May 12, 2018, I got nothing from that day. The police officers promised that they would make sure that I got his bag from the trunk of the car which contained a lot of his music and written music, his wallet and personal things, but they allowed the car to be demolished and I never received the items. The funeral home threw away my son's clothing that contained no damage because all his injuries were internal, and the hospital stole his watch and his earring — so I got nothing from that day. I tried to come up with ways I could keep his name alive and I came up with SPAZZZ26.COM. This way I could attach his name to his dream of sharing his music around the world. When someone visits from SPAZZZ26 it's like he has been where they are. When I started SPAZZZ26 it wasn't to make money — it was to keep my son's name alive. It took me months to build the website, it was the hardest thing I ever did by myself. Jr has been gone for 8 years and the website has been live for 7 years. This is how SPAZZZ26 came about — his name was Spazzz and he was 26 years old and that's how SPAZZZ26 was born. So help me celebrate the life of my son by celebrating the life of SPAZZZ26.COM.