Catch up time!
* First, my CMA Festival thoughts...
My seventh year in Nashville for the 4 day festival is over. It just gets bigger and bigger every year. More stages and more events. More people! So, here's the thing: you can't get close to doing everything that is offered - and you have to pick and choose, and you have to allow plenty of time to get to where you are going.
The biggest daytime stage is the riverfront stage... along the Cumberland River. It's a beautiful spot and it gets the biggest names (except for the superstar names that perform at night). Due to increased security everywhere it takes longer to enter the area. Everyone had to carry clear bags this year, and go through an x-ray machine. I found that carrying my red blanket to sit on, which I have used for 6 straight years, slowed us down. It had to be unzipped so it didn't look like a bag. It's the way of the world now - or at least in America. Security tightened going into all the venues. Sad, but I felt safer for it.
After the first long day I felt like I'd never make it through all four days! ha It was hot, humid, crowded... and we walked everywhere. That was good and bad. I love walking... and I love that all the activities are close enough to walk.
Some of my highlights: The Brothers Osborne fan party! It included a close up acoustic set from the brothers, and a meet & greet. And, I won a meet & greet with Thomas Rhett! That was very cool! And... I did a hand grip/high five with Keith Urban as he went down the aisle during his concert time at the stadium. I love the guy - what an amazing talent!! I felt like a teeny-bopper - star struck fan - but I don't care. It WAS exciting!!
My list of artists I saw perform is long, but, so is the list of who I wish I could have seen. As I said earlier, with seven stages and other events going on all at the same time it is impossible to see it all. New artists, the older ones, classic country, new country, etc. It's all there!
The honky tonks on lower Broadway rocked the whole time too! Most of them had stages on each floor... with different bands on each one all the time. Morning to night. The caliber of talent in them was amazing too. SO MUCH TALENT IN NASHVILLE!
Nighttime at the Nissan Stadium each night is a lineup of the top names. Again the list was long! Each night finished up around midnight, although Luke played til 1:00am on the final night. Yes, I headed back to the hotel before he came on because it was already 11:45pm and I was tired, and I knew I had a long day of driving the next day. You just can't do everything!
Quick thoughts: swollen feet. sweaty. fewer cowboy hats seen. More baseball caps. Friendly people everywhere. Fans from around the world! Amazing logistical event. I saw NO crazy, out of hand people. Temporary tattoo. Award show red carpet. comfy bed - thank god. Free stuff. Drink water constantly. Live music, music, music!!
Will I go for number 8?? Probably. It has gotten more expensive each year. And I admit each year I pay for seats at Nissan Stadium that are up close, in the Gold Circle area. Row 9 !! But it's amazing experience... and there is a great feeling of unity and love of country music by everyone there.
* Back to reality - gotta get back to see my grandsons soon. I miss them!! Maybe this weekend...
* Father's Day weekend on tap! My dad is back to his apartment at Brookdale. I'm glad because he feels comfortable there and is reunited with his dog. He needs more assistance and pain meds for now.
* Also coming up: I'm helping at VBS at church next week. My bestie and some of her family are coming to the beach soon! 4th of July celebration the weekend before the actually day. Then on to Lakeside. I see this every year: summer is busy and it goes by too quickly!!
* I voted in yesterday's SC primary. It amazes me how SO many people talk and complain, and are discouraged by today's politics but don't vote. The numbers were low again yesterday. You gotta vote people!!!
* Funny story... when I checked in to vote yesterday I realized I had not updated my driver's license and still had my old address on it. So, I told the lady working at the check-in table that it was an old local address but I was probably still in the system at "49 Red Squirrel". And I was. Then a few seconds later a man next to me came up to check in also and gave his address as "49 Red Squirrel"!!!! What??? I turned - and said "hello! I am the person who used to own your house!" Crazy! Small town life. ha See, when we sold the house, my grandboys had just been born in Raleigh, so I was not able to meet the couple buying our 49 Red Squirrel home. In fact, hubby had cleaned out the house - and had only met the wife of the couple. Yesterday, she was sitting in the car - so I went outside after voting, and met her, chatted awhile... and found out they both love the house. It really made me feel good to know! I loved that home.
* Speaking of politics... I watched the David Letterman "No Introduction Needed" cable show yesterday... it was the one where David had President Obama on as his guest. I had watched the episode with Tina Fey a few weeks ago and enjoyed the show very much. Anyway, the Obama episode just once again made me miss that man in the top office so much! What a difference from what we have now. Part of yesterday's show was also about Rep. John Lewis and the civil rights movement. I recommend everyone pull up that show and watch. We need to be reminded sometimes. We need to keep our troubles in perspective and see what we as a nation have gone through. We need to see what African Americans have gone through. We need to be more compassionate to people.
* I have an eye appointment with a specialist today. Why? I have one eye extremely near sighted, and one eye extremely far sighted. My regular eye doctor did not want to prescribe new glasses without first sending me to see if a specialist might be able to correct the difference better... I guess through surgery. Hmmmm. That's what got me in this condition. Years ago I had lasik surgery done - one eye for up close, and one for distance. Both eyes have changed... going in opposite directions. Crazy, right?
I better get myself showered and ready to go to it. It's about an hour or so away.
I hope you are enjoying your summertime...
til next time.
Sounds like a really fun but exhausting weekend! Hope the eye appointment goes well.
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