October 3, 2006

Well Folks….

It’s been a while since I sent out one of these “Newsletters”….so I figured it was about time to start them up again!!! 

We got back safe and sound from the Academy of Western Artists’ Award Show in Richardson Texas late Thursday afternoon…..what a trip that was!!!  Just about everything that could happen …..happened!!   But let me start at the beginning!!

We were making fine time in Rhonda’s big old Roadmaster….driving like a dream right into Memphis…when Janet decided we needed to make a quick “pit-stop”!   Well….Rhonda braked down pretty quickly as we were right on the next exit….and at just about 30 MPH ….the car went out of control….the front end going every which way….Rhonda finally got the car stopped and we limped off the ramp directly into the parking lot of a Subaru dealership….Needless to say….there wasn’t much need for a “pit-stop” but we weren’t going anywhere else…so we stopped….and spent the next 2 hours trying to find somewhere we could get the car up on a rack for someone to look at the front end!   Well let me tell you folks….don’t EVER try to get anything done in Memphis ….on a Sunday!!   It ain’t going to happen…. ‘cause NOBODY works in Memphis on a Sunday!!! 

We were at our wits end when Rhonda finally decided to call  her road service to tow the car to Jonesboro Arkansas (about 80 miles away) where her step-daughter, Debbie lives.   It was a “100 miles free towing”….which was great…except for one thing….the cab would only hold one person other than the driver!   That meant that Janet and I were stuck in Memphis!!  We finally decided that Rhonda would ride with the tow truck and then use Debbie’s car to come back and get us!   But then the general manager, Mr. Vinnie Girard, of the Subaru dealership said he would drive Janet and I to Jonesboro if we could wait there until he got off from work around 5:15pm….Well Sure, Pilgrim….We Could Do That!!!  So Rhonda was off with the tow truck….and Janet and I spent the next 3 hours in the lounge watching tv and eating pizza!!   At 5:15pm we drove out of Memphis with our new friend  Vinnie. a French Canadian who has lived in the states for the past several years…..He wouldn’t hear of taking any payment for driving us….but wanted us to back him up on his next album!  Turned out that he  was a pretty danged good musician and was planning to be in Nashville during the next 6 or 8 months recording….So you bet we agreed to back him up!!   Not a problem!!!  THAT we can do!!!

 So we finally get to Jonesboro….introduce Vinnie to everyone….play music for a while and waited for Rhonda to get in….(She and Debbie’s husband took the car to K-Mart Auto Center)….and Guess What?   No front end problem….no rocker arm….no tie rod…..but…..the steel belts in both of her front radial tires broke at the same time!!!   Now what are the odds of THAT happening?   But anyway….all she had to buy was 2 tires!!!   FANTASTIC!!!   So next morning bright and early we were ON OUR WAY!!!

 We got to Richardson, Texas about 8 hours later and immediately began a hectic 3 days of radio and television interviews, jamming, “PR”-ing….and just plain … Having a Great Time!  There were so many “highlights” of this trip…but I guess getting to hang out with Lacy J. Dalton was the best of all….(although getting our picture made with Ferlin Huskey was pretty high up on the list too!!)   I’ve always been a great fan of Lacy’s and I knew she was a little tiny gal….but I didn’t  know she was THAT little….every bit of 5 feet high….in 3 inch spike heels!!!   How in the world did that HUGE voice come from that little bitty gal ….I don’t know!!  But I got to write a song with her while we were there….and she gave us one of her new songs to record….a brand new one that she wrote only 2 weeks ago….and we can’t wait to do it!!   Lordy what a songwriter that lady is!!

 We got to meet up with a lot of friends we hadn’t seen in a couple of years….Mike Moroff…a gifted artist as well as singer and musician….(his new cd is awesome, by the way)…He is currently producing a new film (he’s been in Hollywood for years before moving to New Mexico and deciding to become a cowboy artist!!!) …and they start shooting in November and will keep us posted as to the progress….can’t wait to get the details on that one!!

 David and Becky Cline ….a very successful independent artist….(his award list is as long as your arm!!)….Ken Overcast…whose syndicated radio program is broadcast ALL over the place, including Jefferson City, Tennessee!!!  (I’ll find the radio station call letters and let you all know….so you can listen to some of the finest western music in the world!!!)  Billy  Mata whose Western Swing voice just can’t be beat!!   June Fisher….so talented….and from just down the road in Franklin, Tennessee!    Tammy Gislason….another transplanted Canadian….who now resides in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee and works at the Fiddler’s Feast Theatre!!!  Now THAT little bitty gal can SING!  Dave Alexander….and the best Western Swing Band this side of Bob Wills and the Texas Playboys!!!  And so many others that I just can’t mention them all!!!    So you can see why we had so much fun!!   Just couldn’t help ourselves!!!

 The Will Rogers Awards on Tuesday night were spectacular!!   We were the only group that got to perform TWO songs!   Dave Alexander and his great band backed us up….and he couldn’t decide on which song to do…. “Sweetheart Sweetie Mine” …or…. “Texas Cowboys Always Break Your Heart”….sooooo…..when we finished with “Sweetheart…”….he hollered out…. “Hey Gals….how about doing that new song about Texas Cowboys!!!”  (That was totally impromptu….he sprung it on the stage manager as well as the audience….) So I asked the audience…. “Do you folks want to hear “Texas Cowboys Always Break Your Heart”?”  And Dave started the intro to their enthusiastic “Yeah’s” and applause!!!!  So THAT performance really felt good!!!

 Well we were beginning to wind down on Wednesday and spend most of the day at our booth “networking”  and collecting swapped cds….and just having a grand ol’ time tellin’ jokes and singing to the guitar….but finally decided it was time to head ‘em up and move ‘em out!   About 4:oopm we drove out of Dallas and we were on our way back home!!!  We figured we’d drive all night….taking turns of course….me driving during the daylight hours while Rhonda snoozed in the back seat….and then her taking over after dark when it’s really hard for me to see….and that was fine until just about 80 miles out of …..you guessed it…..MEMPHIS!!!  Here it goes again!!!  

 The rain began to pour down in sheets….lightening flashed….thunder rolled….and the windshield wiper broke!!!  Well anyway….the one on the passenger’s side did!!!  It was flopping everywhere….but Rhonda kept going until  she found a Rest Area….(she was afraid to pull over right there on the highway because the rain was so hard and we’d all heard of how someone got “plowed into” because the visibility was so bad….)…so 14 miles down the road…we pulled into the Rest Area….locked the doors….and promptly fell asleep….until 6am the next morning!!!  Talk about exhausted!!!   Seems like all the sleep I got on this trip….was sittin’ straight UP!!

 We finally pulled into home around 3:30pm Thursday  afternoon!   I didn’t even unpack….I just fell into my big recliner and stayed there…..for 2 days!!!   (Well ….I’m exaggerating there…but I sure did sleep a lot for those two days!!!)  But there’s no rest for the weary….because we had a gig Saturday….I think I did that one in my sleep!!!  

 And here it is …..nearly a week since we got back from Texas….and I’m just now getting’ this letter out!!   Getting’ slow in my old age, aren’t I???  Well….maybe so….But I’m sure not slow at having a good time!!!  

 Well…. guess I’d better “git along down the trail”….and hope you folks don’t go to sleep reading this book I wrote!!!  So “Git along little dogies….”  ….and….hope every one of you have…..

 Many Happy Trails….

 Donna    -for-
“Sisters of the Silver Sage”