Thursday, February 2, 2012
Starting Over...
I'm a few years older and, hopefully, a bit wiser since I last posted on here. I look back and I see how long winded I was in my first few posts. Oh, my. How embarrassing! I don't plan on going back.
So, if you'll give me a bit of growing room, I promise to do my best to write something a bit interesting every now and then. My hope is that I touch on something that touches, tickles, teaches, treats or blesses you. Most of all, I hope to write something you n-Joy!
Tuesday, August 25, 2009
First Day of the Last Year of Junior High
Anna--first day of 8th grade
Monday, August 3, 2009
A Patriotic Night
The line up is in this picture above. (Anyone know how I can move pictures to other areas in my post? So far they will only go at the top. Thanks for any help! Joy)
The show started with Lee Greenwood who has such a wonderful excitement for this country and uses his music to relay that excitement. He moves like a 20 something, though I'm pretty sure he's at least twice that since he's been in showbiz for over 30 years. He, of course, sang "Proud to be an American", which was just one of many of his patriotic songs. He was on fire.
Next up was Charlie Daniels, who I had seen over 25 years ago in Chicago. He is fabulous! He uses the fiddle (not to be called a violin when it's played like this!) like it's an extension of his arm. You can even see the marks on the fiddle from the beating it takes whenever he plays it. He is a true master. My husband mentioned that the man playing the piano looked quite old. I laughed out loud. There wasn't anybody under 55 in the entire band which, I suspect, has a median age of 68! Having said that, I don't think you could find a better, more professional, talented or experienced band anywhere. Again I say WOW!
The big surprise was when Sean Hannity came out and sang "Devil Went Down to Georgia" with the band. The boy has got beat! Of course, this particular song isn't sung but rather rapped (before we called it rap) and he had it down pat. I have listened to the song over the years and it is very fast-moving with about 70 words per second so I imagine memorizing it was a bear to do. He got a standing "O" for that one and he definitely deserved it.
In between the music acts, Sean Hannity came out and spoke to the crowd (a full house, by the way). Col. Oliver North (Ret.) was there to the delight of everyone in the crowd. What a patriot! On the big screens between acts, soldiers from the Houston area stationed in Iraq & Afghanistan were shown saying "hi" to their loved ones. That was so great. At one point, Sean brought out three families to talk to their loved ones LIVE in Iraq. The sound delay made it funny so help with the profound feeling of that big lump in your throat. Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchinson and Gov. Rick Perry also spoke.
The third musician up was Michael W. Smith. He didn't come with a band or any special effects. He simply sat at the electric piano and sang his songs. I followed MWS since his beginnings in the early '80's. He is an amazingly talented man but more than that, he is a devote man of God. He pours his God-filled heart into his music and blesses everyone. He spoke of being at the White House a few weeks after 9/11. He said that Pres. Bush said to him, "W---that's what he calls me---you need to write a song about what happened." He said he was put on the spot and told the president that he would do his best. A few months later as he looked at the large US flag in his yard, this song came to him:
Last up was Billy Ray Cyrus. I have to admit, I didn't know what to expect. My teenager is a big fan of his daughter, Miley Cyrus, and we've all watched hours upon hours of the show Hannah Montana, the show they star in on The Disney Channel. I remember his days of "Achy Breaky Heart" and how he was teased (unfairly, in my opinion) over that song. I purchased his album back then and really like his voice and his style. However, it seemed that the "cool" country folk and the late night guys decided it was better to tear down than lift up. BRC was a bit late coming out and there was no explanation offered. However, once he hit the stage, he turned it up several notches. He sang three times as long as the other entertainers. He sang his "Some Gave All"--an older song of his that I've always loved. Most of the crowd was on their feet. Veterans were the first to their feet. My husband is a Vietnam vet and does NOT stand up for many things other than the National Anthem. He was on his feet first! Billy Ray did a fabulous tribute to our military with this song and I wish he had more support. He talks very little during his concert, preferring to do his music. That's fine with me. Still, he could have talked as much as he wanted to this crowd because they loved him. Of course, he couldn't get away without doing Achy Breaky and that's what he finished with. Sean came out at the end and both men threw out souvenir footballs and beach balls.
The entire show lasted nearly 4 hours. It passed by so quickly that it was hard to believe it was that long. And we're talking four hours in Houston's heat. It was 111 degrees on the marque on the way there and down to a balmy 98 degrees on the way home! We're hardy stock here in Texas.
If you are able to go to this show, please do. It will definitely bless you and put the pride back in your heart. N-Joy
Thursday, July 23, 2009
Doe, A Deer....
As the deer pants for the water, so my soul longs after You.
Tuesday, July 21, 2009
Firsts
There were plenty of great "firsts" when I was younger: first time I rode my bicycle without the training wheels, the first time I rode on a school bus, first time I mowed the lawn, first time I fell off my bicycle and skinned my knees, first time I ever held a baby...lots of firsts. As I've grown older, the "firsts" have become fewer and fewer.
I remember in my twenties when I "first" realized that my "firsts" were dwindling. I was a bit sad about it at the time. Seems silly now that I'm well into my forties to think that I thought my twenties were the end of my "firsts," but at the time, I remember thinking "I need to have a "first."
When I was about 22, a friend of mine was about to open his "first" restaurant. He had invited friends and family to stop by the day before the grand opening to celebrate. As everyone was sitting at a small group of tables talking and listening to music, I began to look around the room. Everything was pristine. There were no stains on the table clothes, no cigarette burns in the carpet, no finger smudges on the jukebox. That's when I got the bright idea that I wanted to be the first person to sit at every booth and every table.
I quietly slipped away from the group and began sitting in every chair and booth in the room. I was about one third of the way through the room, and thinking I was pretty clever to have thought of this, when someone noticed me. I looked up to see everyone staring at me, smiling that nervous smile that says "she looks normal but what in the world is she doing...and is she dangerous?" My friend, the new owner, shouted over the loud music and asked me what in the world I was doing. Without breaking my rhythm I replied, "I'm sitting in every one of your chairs. I want to be the first."
When I had accomplished my goal of sitting everywhere there was a seat, I rejoined the group. Sure, I got some razzing, but it didn't bother me. I had made my own first and I was happy. I even heard a couple of people say they wish they had thought of that.
Okay, so that wasn't the greatest story every told. It was no Wright brothers at Kitty Hawk or first man on the moon, but it leads me to this: This is my first ever blog and at the ripe 'ol age of 47, it feels pretty good to have a first.
I don't know where this will take me. I don't know how often I will post. I don't even know what I'll post. I just know that I want to be an encouragement to whomever happens to stumble upon my little blog. I want everyone who spends a few minutes with me and my thoughts to feel a little better than they did before they read it.
So, here's to firsts! And to those willing to join me on this, my FIRST blog!
Happy First Day!
N-Joy!