Musician’s Widow

This is my sixth Fan Fair as a Nashvillian, but I also attended the festival in 1997 as a fan. So I have a lot of fun memories from this yearly week of madness.

1. In 1997 I stood in line for hours on end (no really, hours in the sun… I’ve done it so I get it) to see my favorite artist at that time. I can’t find my hard copy of the picture I took with him, but I have a sad little scanned image that has degraded over the years after being copied from one computer to another to another to another. (By the way, this is how much I love my readers… sharing a picture of me at 16.)

2. In 2009, a friend gave us tickets to one of the night’s shows at LP Field. As my husband and I sat waiting for the show to start, a gentleman sat down beside my husband. My husband leans over and goes, “Is this who I think it is?” It was Peter Noone from Herman’s Hemits! SUPER nice guy and he was happy to take a picture with my husband.

3. FREE BLUE BELL ICE CREAM! A taste of home…

4. In 1997, the last thing on mine and my parents’ itinerary for Fan Fair was to attend the Grand Ole Opry. Among the many acts we saw, I ran up and took close-up shots of Porter Wagoner, Little Jimmy Dickens and Ricky Van Shelton. I had seen the Opry on TV, and I knew its history. This was a big deal to be there!! Get this! 10 years later, I returned to the Opry with my parents. This time, though, it was to see my husband play with the artist he was playing for at that time. It was a surreal moment, that’s for sure! I’ve since then been blessed to go to the Opry dozens of times, watching from side-stage. But that first trip? That first one remains one of my favorites.

5. Last night, I got to have a new favorite memory. Walking in to the bar where I work, and standing right there was Mel Tillis. I am not one to ask anyone for pictures, content just meeting them and knowing for myself I met a legend. But a friend goes, “Hey, you need a picture with him. Hey Mel, take a picture with her.” I was ready for just a side-by-side shot. Instead, he gave me this amazing big hug… I’m still grinning from it!

Ahhh… CMA Fest, aka Fan Fair, I do kinda love you.

Yesterday, I had a music station playing on our cable TV. I was putting groceries away, singing along much to the cats’ dismay. Then it happened.

A song that was huge for the artist my now-husband was working for when we met came on… and it stopped me in my tracks. It was like being hit by a fright train of memories. In a very good way!!

Memories of shows. Memories of old conversations. Memories of dinners and laughter. I remember having a bad day, and I was riding in a vehicle with my best friend. She threw the artist’s CD on knowing it would cheer me up. Memories of meeting people that I consider dear friends today…

I tweeted about it and the following conversation ensued:

Oh I’m not saying those days were all roses. LOL! There were definitely plenty of bumps along the way for ALL of us. But somehow as time as passed, the bumps have faded and the good memories still shine.

It knocked me off my feet, but I am glad that song reminded me for awhile of the past. Reminded me to be thankful for the twists and turns of life that put me right where I am today with the people… or to steal a the term from a friend… the angels around me today.

 You can rock it you can roll it
Do the stomp and even stroll it
At the hop...

Saturday night, the bar where I work had a Sock Hop in honor of the couple that has pretty much adopted all of us transplants to Nashville who call that bar our second home. They both were turning 55 within days of each other, and, as such, we celebrated with a Sock Hop!

I’ll be honest, when the idea first came up months ago, I went, “Uh… huh. Right. A sock hop.” Too bad I wasn’t still in elementary school, when I regularly rocked a poodle skirt and saddle shoes. (No really, I did! I just don’t have a picture here to share of that… darn it.) But alas, I no longer had that outfit, and I was baffled what I would do to dress ’50s style. So, I have to admit, I kind of ignored that it was going to happen at all.

I briefly planned to get my mom to help me make a poodle skirt while I was home for Christmas, but really… really? Who has time to add MORE to the Christmas festivities!? That didn’t happen.

Before I knew it, I had only a few days to get my outfit together. A friend mentioned that there were vintage stores around town, so I decided to Google “vintage stores Nashville.” That search eventually led me to Hip Zipper, a vintage store in East Nashville. I seriously fell in love with this store. GREAT vintage items at excellent prices (in my opinion)… and everything is of quality.  I will DEFINITELY be back.

I scored a grey skirt and a cuuuute pink sweater/shrug to wear. I paired that with a pink and a white tank top, a necklace that was my grandmother’s, a headband I bought years ago from Victoria’s Secret (but had never worn!), bright red lipstick and my hair in a mess of curls. A friend in the middle of the evening loaned me a pair of cat-eye glasses. I think I looked awesome:

I have to admit, this just sparked a deep down love for everything 50s for me. It’s made me want to go in that direction a bit more style-wise. I feel a little bad for my Pinterest followers the last few days being inundated with cute 50s dresses that I love and want now.

Anyway, I ended up having an absolute blast! I worked hard (my legs let me know all night long that I wore unsupportive shoes!), but also had the opportunity to play a little bit here and there, too. The night was filled primarily with regulars and “family” who came to wish the couple a Happy Birthday.

We did get a quick photo of all the ladies that usually work behind the bar… I so love this photo.

I don’t just see a group of bartenders and friends here… I see smart, strong, successful women. All amazing in their own rights and in their own ways. They each inspire me, and to get this shot on such a fun night… just makes me SO happy.

In fact, that being said… I went into the evening a bit leery. I really did. But in the end, I found myself smiling from ear to ear to see all these people — all these successful adults — let their hair down, travel back in time to when life was simpler, and just have FUN.

I remember in high school, you’d find yourself compelled to “act like an adult” and I remember even Halloween being snubbed as “childish” and “silly.” Its funny how its taken growing up to realize that sometimes, acting like an adult means knowing exactly when NOT to take yourself so seriously. It’s knowing when and how to enjoy yourself and the people around you. Especially at the hop.

2012 is winding down… less than a day and a half remain as I type this. It’s been a very FULL year; a busy and (thankfully!) prosperous one. Many goals and dreams seem to be on track, and I have nothing but thanks to give for 2012. What a change from just a few years ago!! I pray 2013 will continue the upward trend.

My year in photos… hitting some of the high points. I had such a full year, its impossible to talk about it all.  (But it won’t stop me from trying! LOL)

Celebrated 5 Years of Marriage

Did several photo shoots that made me more confident behind the camera.

 Helped clean and revamp the bar… and attended Waco’s MDA Muscle Walk to support my nephew and family.

 Attending Kassie Jordan’s CD release party… and put a penny on Sully. Asking for luck in life.

It was a Leap Year… and contained lots of trips to the Opry.

Nature was extra beautiful in Texas in the Spring.

And several Diffie shows brought my husband and me together during tax season (and let us explore Texas a bit!)

I got to see my niece play ball… and later I attended Good Guy’s Nationals Car Show.

 I was introduced to Mules (yum!) and Antique Archeology in Music City.

There was the Great Food Truck Race and Fan Fair… oh wait, CMA Music Fest.

OREGON!

A long over-due visit to the Pacific Northwest.

And of course, Multnomah Falls.

 My husband got a motorcycle, and (help us all) I like it.

Wilson County Fair and Battle of the Bell

Kyle Field and Cowboys Stadium. (Not to mention a Heisman Trophy for Aggie QB and State Championship for my Yoemen.)

Taking time to relax, and get a bit creative for friends.

Christmas in Texas… and snow as the year ends. (Oh and that truck.)

Nashville is Home.

Family has my Heart

A few years ago, we started taking a “family photo” at the bar Christmas party. Over the years, its had to become two photos that I later Photoshop together. This year, I even had to Photoshop myself into it.

Ahhh…. good times and precious memories with a great group of friends.

13 years ago Bonfire collapsed. For anyone on the outside looking in… you could never understand the deep impact that event had on Aggies around the world… old, young, new army, old army. It touched us all. It broke all our hearts. It stands as a moment in time that will not be forgotten.

While Bonfire is no more (not officially) and we no longer play Texas… it still matters. And tonight… I will pause to remember.

11.18.1999 @ 2:42 AM

Video released for the 10 year anniversary of the collapse says more than I could put tonight words here.

There’s a spirit can ne’er be told… it’s the spirit of Aggieland…