December 11, 1998
Man oh man, what can I say other than WOW! I just this minute got in off
the road from Pasco Washington and seeing the guys last night. We left
Moscow at 2:10 in the afternoon, picked up my little brother and hit the
road. It took us about two and a half hours in the rain and fog to get to
Pasco and our hotel. My Dad and little brother ate dinner and then it was
off to the TRAC to see the concert.
It started with Baxter Black and his wonderful poetry. He did some old
ones, Shoein' Pigeye and the Rocky Mountain Oysters, as well as some from
his new book and a couple of Christmas ones. Then there was a ten minute
intermission while they worked on the stage and my little brother and I
walked around. The room was beautiful, Christmas trees set up with blue
lights and the main room lights out. Then we were treated to a
performance from the mid-Colombia Symphony and they were great. They
played Christmas music and had a singalong with the audience. Then there
was another ten minute intermission and then Riders time.
Baxter came out to introduce them, and read his poem from last year, with
a couple of changes and then the guys came out on the stage. They kicked
off with Christmas time's a comin'. Other songs included:
Ridin' home on Christmas Eve
My Dad, little brother and I were in the front row, slightly off to the
Slim side of the stage. Like Bobbie, I had to leave my camera in it's
holster because of the lighting set-up, but the picutures will live in my
mind forever. When Doug was doing the introductions, Doug saw me and
waved, and then Slim saw me during one of the songs. Doug saw me singing
along several times and I managed to crack him up once. Slim started
singing Rawhide and I started laughing. Doug saw me, and he started
laughing too! I knew what was coming, and of course, there were more
trail drivers than bowlers in the crowd. Woody did his "super stupendous,
wonderful, astounding, amazing, etc" rope tricks and nailed everyone of
them. Twice through the loop and into the Cowboy wedding band and out
again.
At the concert, as Lee had explained, there were two types of
tickets, encoure and reserve. We had the reserve tickets, which meant you
could go backstage and meet with the Riders and Baxter Black. Well, what
they hadn't mentioned was that you had to be 21 years or older to go into
this room to meet with them. I was really lucky the supervisor was there
and he said because we had paid our money to let my little brother (15)
and me (19) in, but we had to stay away from the bar, talk with the guys,
and leave again. And they were watching the whole time. I gave the camera
to my little brother to take the pics of me with the guys and we got into
line to talk with the guys who were all standing together. I had the
books all wrapped up and ready to go in my bag, so I pulled out Slim's
and got ready to talk with them.
Rem and I were about five or six people back when I heard, "Hey,
Alexandra. It's Alexandra the Great!" Doug had spotted me. I told him I
didn't think so. Then Joey saw me and asked how I was doing. The people
ahead of me in line started looking a little puzzled. I got up to Slim
and handed him his present and said it was from all the Cyberpals. He
gave me a huge hug (big enough for me to pass along to everyone!) and I
got my pic taken with him. And, I got all of them to sign the 8-track I
won in Portland last summer. Doug was next, and I had to dig out his
present right there. He's holding it up in the picture. When I gave Joey
his he said, "Aw, sweetheart!" And gave me the biggest bear hug I have
ever had. Woody was trying to sneek into that picture and we'll just have
to see how that one turned out. Joey and I were trying to get him out of
it. And, Woody was last. I gave him his Christmas present, his "love ewe"
and the note from Bobbie. He looked at the others and said, " Look guys,
I'm the favorite!" And I got a big hug from him.
Then, after I told them I would see them in Bear Creek, Rem and I
went over to meet Baxter. That's when I started getting nervous, but
there was no reason. He is one of the nicest men. When I told him I was a
cowgirl poet, he looked at me and said, "Really." I got my picture taken
with him as well, I needed some pics! Then, Rem and I left, and Rem told
me the guy who didn't want to let us in winked at us. I think he saw me
visiting with the Riders.
The only things that could have made the concert better was if it
had been longer and if I could have found Lee and Jerry. Where were you
guys?
That was the end of the concert and it was off to the hotel to dream of
cowboys and harmony all night. And, my Dad says maybe we can go to
Montana to see them in May!
Catch you all on down the trail
Tiff
Christmas Yodel
Wa-Hoo
Rawhide (Bowlin', bowlin', bowlin')
Christmas tv show medley
Christmas album medley
The Phantom of the Chuckwagon
Sidemeat's Christmas goose
Deck the Bunkhouse walls
All photos and material © 1998 by contributing cyberpal.
Cyberpals