Riders in the Sky
and Nancy at the Truman Lake Opry, Sept 5,1998

Photos here

Show #3821 3 p.m. and 8 p.m.

Jeff and I left home at 10 a.m. for Tightwad, population 50. We arrived at 1 p.m. and parked next to the Riders' Gizmo. Ranger Doug was standing in front and I yelled at him. He said he was so glad we could make it to the shows. He went inside and Jeff and I were right behind him. He gave me a big hug and asked me how I was feeling and if my medical problems were under control. (This was the first time I'd seen them since my surgery in April) He left and Paul (as in Paul David Chrisman - Woody's son, and a very nice, handsome young man) was putting out the merchandise.

I was talking to Paul and I hear this familiar voice behind me say "THIS MUST BE NANCY CHITTY!" Everyone in the lobby turned around and looked. It was Slim with Joey. They each gave me a big hug and well wishes. Then Woody walked up and gave me a hug. He looked very good and rested, even with a bandaged right hand. I gave him the little package of postcards and told him the Cyberpals were all thinking about him and that the postcards were from pals - coast to coast. He said "Thank you so much - I really needed that!!" SO - THE CYBERPALS MADE HIS DAY! He was thrilled AND so was I.

At 3 p.m, the Show got underway - however, the Truman Lake Opry Band open and played for about 45 minutes then a 15-minute break. They had a long line of people at the box office, so finally about 4:15, Show # 3,821 was underway. When the stage crew raised the curtain, it hung up on their mike cords and it tipped over Joey's mike stand so he came on catching that as the curtain went up.

They made remarks about Tightwad - people starved for entertainment, are people from Tightwad called tightwads? or are they Tightwaders?, or Tightwadians??

The songs: Texas Plains, How the Yodel was Born, Wahoo, Tumbling Tumbleweeds, Reincarnation (to Joey), Farr Away Stomp, the co-dependent dysfunctional love song (Autumn on the Trail), Sioux City Sue (hair is blue, her eyes are red - Senior Citizen with a hangover), Hoop de Doo, Night Riding Song, Rawhide with the Bowling added in. Ranger Doug asked Slim what he was doing. Slim said he was relating to the audience because he figured there were more bowlers than trail drivers, SO, the Ranger takes a poll - of course, the room was full of trail drivers!!! More songs were: Cowboy Camp Meeting, You are my Sunshine, Arms of my Love, One More Ride, then they did QUESTIONS:

I got the 8 track by springing the boxers or briefs question. Then they did Requests and finished the show with Shifting Whispering Sands, Chime Bells (Ranger Doug yodeled and did the ventriloquism where Slim was suppose to be the one yodeling), Cool Water, a Joey Polka (the fastest fingers in Tightwad) and the Roy Rogers tribute.

Jayna was sitting next to us and it was Show #49 for her. She would hit 50 tomorrow at Pittsburg!

We stayed for the 8 p.m. show - still called Show # 3,821. The curtain hung up again and this time it got Ranger Doug and it almost took his guitar with it.

An 84-year-old lady won the 8 track. Her niece asked the question: My aunt is 84 years old and she wants to know how old you are?? Ranger Doug said "are you trying to set us up??????"

They did most of the same songs as the first show: Slim did Phantom instead of Reincarnation. Doug did La Maliguena instead of Autumn on the Trail. In place of Night Riding Song, the did Cattle Call and Woody and Slim did their hilarious animal calls with the wrecked circus train. For the requests they did: Bisquit Blues, Good Night Irene, Big Rock Candy Mountain, Ghost Riders, Joey's polka.

They ended with the Roy Rogers Tribute.

I gave them all a hug and told them we'd see them tomorrow in Pittsburg. They were pleased. Jeff and I headed home and arrived at 2:30 a.m. Then we were ready to depart at 10 a.m. for Pittsburg.

Nancy

 


To contact RITS "Cyberpals", email
Cyberpals

All photos and material © 1998 by contributing cyberpal.