An airport cab ride together far from home, fellow flight attendants asking the driver to turn the radio on, "That's that new cowboy singer my wife likes so much." My husband didn't even know his name, but his fellow crew member Phil was an Oklahoma boy and knew the singer's name was Garth Brooks.
He didn't just know Garth Brooks but had 12 tickets for an outdoor performance scheduled for that Father's Day in nearby Virginia. "A bunch of us fellas are going to the concert, would your wife like to come along? My husband knew to say, "Sure!"
The morning of Father's Day, I was as excited as could be. Our tickets were not only to watch the performance but to meet Garth and Trisha Yearwood and Vince Gill after the performance. I wore my favorite white sweetheart summer dress with pink cabbage roses on it's full skirt. Hot pink slip-ons and earings to match, I had my hair done especially for the occasion. I was dressed to meet my very first heart throb; but as is often the case in the military, a pop-up trip prohibited all eleven stewards from being able to attend. I would be going alone.
I don't know what I thought an outdoor concert would be like, but it definitely wasn't at all what I expected. The stage sat at the bottom of a natural bowl shaped earth formation, with the crowd sitting on blankets on it's grassy sides. The day was unusually hot for June, the temperature pressing 100 degrees. I was shocked to find the audience members wore next to no clothes at all, and there I was dressed in my tea length sundress. For once my desire to sing along with Garth outweighed my mortification of not fitting in. I was having the time of my life.
The heat was so oppressive, people began to faint by the dozens. The sky in the distance began darkening with rain heavy clouds. Calls to cancel the concert were met with boos as lightening could be seen striking the ground at the top of the bowl formation all around. I will never forget this "electrifying" moment as Garth began to sing the last song of the concert, the one we had all been waiting to hear, "... and the thunder rolls...."
I carried my concert ticket in my wallet for years to come until the printing finally wore completely away. I have never been to another concert and most likely never will, but I will always remember the girl I was in a cabbage rose dress having the time of her life when the thunder rolled.
An airport cab ride together far from home, fellow flight attendants asking the driver to turn the radio on, "That's that new cowboy singer my wife likes so much." My husband didn't even know his name, but his fellow crew member Phil was an Oklahoma boy and knew the singer's name was Garth Brooks.
He didn't just know Garth Brooks but had 12 tickets for an outdoor performance scheduled for that Father's Day in nearby Virginia. "A bunch of us fellas are going to the concert, would your wife like to come along? My husband knew to say, "Sure!"
The morning of Father's Day, I was as excited as could be. Our tickets were not only to watch the performance but to meet Garth and Trisha Yearwood and Vince Gill after the performance. I wore my favorite white sweetheart summer dress with pink cabbage roses on it's full skirt. Hot pink slip-ons and earings to match, I had my hair done especially for the occasion. I was dressed to meet my very first heart throb; but as is often the case in the military, a pop-up trip prohibited all eleven stewards from being able to attend. I would be going alone.
I don't know what I thought an outdoor concert would be like, but it definitely wasn't at all what I expected. The stage sat at the bottom of a natural bowl shaped earth formation, with the crowd sitting on blankets on it's grassy sides. The day was unusually hot for June, the temperature pressing 100 degrees. I was shocked to find the audience members wore next to no clothes at all, and there I was dressed in my tea length sundress. For once my desire to sing along with Garth outweighed my mortification of not fitting in. I was having the time of my life. 
The heat was so oppressive, people began to faint by the dozens. The sky in the distance began darkening with rain heavy clouds. Calls to cancel the concert were met with boos as lightening could be seen striking the ground at the top of the bowl formation all around. I will never forget this "electrifying" moment as Garth began to sing the last song of the concert, the one we had all been waiting to hear, "... and the thunder rolls...."
I carried my concert ticket in my wallet for years to come until the printing finally wore completely away. I have never been to another concert and most likely never will, but I will always remember the girl I was in a cabbage rose dress having the time of her life when the thunder rolled.
33 comments:
I never listened to country music before Garth Brooks came along!
Here's a rodeo story for ya. A few years ago, my mom, sister, and I headed for a rodeo down in South Jersey.
Before it started, we figured we should all go to the bathroom, but how we hated port-a-potties! They're always so gross. Mom was the first to brave them and we wished her good luck as she entered. To our huge surprise, she came out smiling! "Wow!" she said, "They're so CLEAN inside. Not only that, they actually have a shelf for you to put your pocketbook. Isn't that nice?!"
"MOM!" I cringed, "That's not a shelf for your pocketbook - it's the men's urinal!"
Bucks County You have given me a laugh for this day! Too funny! Elizabeth
We took our 3 boys to the USA in 2005. When we were in Austin, Texas a friend took the boys to a park, where next door they were practising for a rodeo the next day. The people invited the boys in to watch and even gave them a ride on the horses. This was an experience they will never forget. They do have rodeos here in Australia, but we have never been to one (they are far and few). Cheers from Down Under, Christine
I do not have a great story like BucksCountyFolkArt, but I am a big fan of Garth Brooks. I remember in high school before he was very big, he came to our town for a concert for an organization raising money. My friend and I had tickets. However, we had both just got back from a livestock show in Houston. My friend got sick and couldn't attend. So, I took my mother. We got there early and I could have been on the front row. But my mom didn't want to stand and wait because he took FOREVER to come on stage. I ended up way in the back in the balcony area. It still was a great concert, but I could have been in the front... that's my story. I loved your story. The thunder rolls.....
I have been to very few concerts but I do like Garth. I grew up next to a farm that had horses. I love to watch them run. They have such wonderful faces.
The thunder rolled her today, how about in your area?
Those little bluebirds are so adorable.
I am taking my husband to his first rodeo this summer. I have gone every year that I have been in Oregon and just love it. I live in the city and love to get out to the country. I have to buy my husband a cowboy hat for the special occasion. Yehaw!
What a wonderful story! You have a way of making all your stories come alive. My imagination easily wraps around your words and it forms wonderful pictures. I too sometimes have trouble relaxing and letting go.
It was Garth Brooks that got me "into" country. I love his voice, and he has a song for every occasion. My soon to be 19 year old nephew use to walk around with a toy microphone singing Garth's songs at the top of his voice! I am going to have to remind him!!
Thank you for the wonderful giveaway, and the memory!
Ok, I am blanking...but I love the story and, as usual, your creations and photographs!
E,
I got to see Garth twice here in Phoenix, and both times were so unreal!!!! I loved him for a long time....I still think he is a really good guy. My love of horses began when I was about 5, my Dad was in the Horse Calvary when he was younger in the National Guard in Wisconsin, and I think I learned to love them via DNA! I got a horse here in AZ before we got a house! But it took two or three to get the perfect mount for me! He name was Cindy, I changed it to Chica Marie. I only called her her full name when she was in trouble! :) I had her for 20 years, she was my very best friend and confidant...she gave me two sweet fillies and years and years of wonderful riding. She was a Mustang out of New Mexico, and only 14 hands tall...but we were best buds! I miss her to this day! I am going to have to post about her one day so you can see how sweet she was. OK...that is my horse story...:) You already know how I feel about your things! :)
Elizabeth..your rodeo creations are so cute..I will pass on the give-away..not much room in the ole House on Wheels..but I can share a story.
I had been on and around horses all my young life. I was going thru a rough patch in Jr. high..a family friend suggested a horse..we went out to the local stables..Mr Langley showed my parents this 18 hand ..grey roan mare. She looked..well doop-do-doop
you know the kind of horse you use on a trail ride..plod..plod..plod. boring!! My younger sister tried her first..as Sandy was getting into the stirrup..she was nipped by the horse with no name.This scared my sister..she would have nothing to do with her..I walked up to her..and well I looked her in the face..and I saw me..misunderstood..full of life..and I wanted her. My parents said no because my sister was afraid of her. Mr. Langley talked them into letting me get on her.
She never..ever..tried to nip me..
We walked around with her..then I ask could I ride her in the open field..He said yes..opened the gate..and it was sheer happiness...
I let her have her head and we flew
I mean we were going soooo fast..I never wanted to return..we bought her after Mr. Langley told my parents I was a pure natural with horses. I named her Ginger O'Malley
I too use her full name when she was being a stinker. I had her for 6 years..she was my barrel racing horse..we could out race all the kids in our community..she was ALL heart..for me..nobody else could ride her..she wouldn't let them. I went off to college..I was gone 2 weeks..came hme..went to the field and whistled..she didn't answer..my parents had sold her..I didn't even get to say goodbye.It has been 36 years and I still can cry over her.Well that's just one of my many stories of Miss Ginger!!
I will post some pictures next week after I am thru with the wedding postings!!
Hugs sweet friend..Cindy from Rick-Rack and Gingham
Hi Elizabeth, I don't have a story and I've never cared for rodeos, but just wanted to tell you those are THE cutest cowboy bluebirds!!!
I grew up in the cowboy state. Casper Wyoming to be succinct. Ranching and horse's are dear to my heart. I think I told you my Papa (last giveaway)... Most of my relatives live in Kentucky and Ohio. Yet I was raised in Wyoming. It made me this southern bell cowgirl is the only way to put it. I branded cattle and helped with everything that is down and dirty on a ranch. Then went home and was taught how to be a young lady. I think it was the best way to grow up. Modest, yet able to work a very long hard sometimes bloody day. The rodeo was always part of the fair and I would get so excited I typically got sick. All the excitement! Sigh, I don't' have a story I have a lifetime. Sorry, I tried.:)
Good Morning Sweet Lady,
I'm a native here in Arizona, and with the combination of being a girl, I just had to love horses......I've never heard of a girl that didn't like them. I used to draw them in the margins of all my school work and I'd receive two grades; an "E" for excellent art and a "D" for not doing so well on the assignment. I used to day dream (still do sometimes) that I'd have all kinds of horses, especially my favorites; the huge draft or work horses. I would imagine myself with the kind of relationship that Sandy spoke of, "best buds" and how my horse or horses and I would have countless adventures together and share every secret.
I did not even get to ride a horse until I was in my teens, but even the old, flea bitten hag that was rented for me, was adored by me. I completely looked past the mottled and scratched hide, the stooped and swayed back, the ribs sticking out and the gnarly hair and managed to see a sleek and magnificent thoroughbred stallion (who cared about the gender).
To this day, I've never had the amazing pleasure of owning a horse, much less riding one on any kind of regular basis, but my older sister gave me my first experience as a birthday present, and I've never forgotten that sleek beauty I rode (LOL).
My love affair continues with horses, and probably always will. Your crafting is another love affair I have, and as much as I treasure the pincushion you made for me, my collection will never be complete as I want everything you make......;o)
I would consider it an honor should I win your western bluebird, so please count me in on this opportunity.
Love ya'
Meri
My mom reads your blog and now she has me getting into it, too! :) I had to enter this give away...I've always loved horses since I was a kid. One time my dad bought a big stack of alfalfa and stored it in our garage. I thought for sure, it meant we were getting a horse. As it turned out, it was for my dads pigeons (he used to raise quite a few tumblers, etc). I was sad but still remember that hopeful "what if" feeling of youth. :)
When I was a little girl we owned horses which we boarded with friends. I remember one time my Uncle Billy took my sister and me to ride our pony. Uncle Billy wanted a turn on Cookie, a very gentle pony. Poor Cookie! Uncle Billy was too big! Our little horse could not take the weight and went right to the ground. She was not hurt just a little embarrassed (a much as a horse could be in front of the other horses) Uncle Billy got off, just as embarrassed, Cookie got up and as soon as the shock wore off we continued with our ride.
Oh, what a thrilling story! I love Garth, too, but have never seen him live. Too bad you never got to meet him after. Twice the memory with your dress than if you just wore shorts!
Posted my June Tag-Along today.
word verification: biblebag!
Love your story and love the birdie too. Please enter me!
Michele
mjk5265@comcast.net
Hi Elizabeth,
We used to live in Tucson, Arizona and I remember taking my youngest son to rodeo days. They actually let the kids have a school holiday for this special occasion.. We saw the rodeo museum and one of my favorite pictures of him is wearing a cowboy hat and sheriffs star. Loved your story about GArth!
My daughter and I are big fans of Garth Brooks. He did a series of concerts when my daughter was about thirteen. It was the middle of summer. I promised her that I would paint her bedroom sunflower yellow if she would go stand in line for tickets with my sister in law. They stood in line for hours while I was painting away. We had so much fun. We sat with another sister in law and she complained for months about all the screaming my daughter did. I know that it is a memory we will never forget though! The funniest thing though is that years later my daughter told me that she hated that yellow paint (she picked it out) and wanted to change it but didn't want to hurt my feelings.
Oh Elizabeth, when I saw that picture of the horse, I knew it was going to be a great post. I have wanted a horse since I was a very little girl. I spent hours playing with my farm sets and horse-trailer pulling play trucks. My daddy's sawhorses became "real" horses that I would ride off into the sunset on. Every year when I made out my Christmas list, the first thing on it was ... a horse! I would save my allowance and spend every last penny at the Five and Dime on plastic or glass horse figurines. I loved everything about horses, even the smell, :)! Fortunately for me, I lived close enough to the country that there were several riding stables close by. Every Saturday that I could talk my dad (our one of my friends parents) into driving us there, we were off trail riding for the day. Alas, sigh, I never did get my own horse but I still love them!
My favorite story of Garth Brooks
is a happy/sad one. My best friends mother Barb loved country music, and many many years ago, she "discovered" a young star named Garth Brooks. She followed him around from town to town, and was known as his biggest fan. He signed a t-shirt for her, and she loved it for many years to come. She passed away 5 years ago, and was buried in that t-shirt. Every time I hear one of his songs, I think of Barb, and all the joy that following Garth around gave her.
XXOO Valarie
Can I tell two?? Capital Records used to be in our small town, and Garth would come to the plant quite often (always very hush hush), well my best friends family owns the local pizza place, and she always had inside information somehow to know when he was coming to town. She'd walk right into Capital's offices with a stack of their delicious smelling pizzas and ALWAYS got to go right up to Garth (never took me with her though!).
The other is a pony, not a horse story. One of my husband's fertilzer customers was retiring off the farm, wondered if we'd take his grandchildren's pony to our place, if they could still come ride it occasionally. My hubby has never turned down an animal. The customer said by the way an antique buggy comes with him, I took it over to Amish country to have them refurbish it. Well, my daughter was thrilled, told everyone about her horse and buggy. When her Great Grandma came to see it, she said it looked alot like one her husband had had back in the thirties, he sold it to a lady in town. Who happened to be who my husbands customer had bought it from! We had our own buggy back in the family! The customer and his wife have both passed on, and their kids thought the pony (Nick) and the buggy should always live with us. Our daughter has outgrown him, but we have a new 2 year old neighbor down the road who is planning lots of buggy rides this summer. :)
Hi E!
My recent love of all things cowgirl has come along as part of a "healing process" over a traumatic childhood event involving a horse...the mad tale begins here:
As a child, I had two aunts...a city aunt and a country aunt. (really, I'm not kidding) My week with the city aunt was always my favorite...restaurants, theatre, shopping expeditions, mudcake at Howard Johnsons. My time with my country aunt was NOT my favorite, but was an obligation I had to endure nonetheless. (My sister endured the city aunt, loving every moment of time out in the country...how we've swapped roles in our "old age!")
Annnnnnnnyway, part of the time spent with the country aunt was doing farm chores...things that horrified me, such as digging the eggs out from under unwilling chickens, feeding knee-pecking roosters, and shoveling out horse stalls in the barn. Now some would say the "perk" in all this was the ability to ride any of my aunts 5 horses...beautiful, HUGE quarterhorses...one who stood a whopping 17 hands high. (I thought it odd this mode of measurement, but apparently it "registered" because I remember it all these many years later)
One afternoon, a well meaning cousin of mine (mischievous to his core) said my aunt said my sister and I could join him for a ride on the horses! Of course, this meant the unpleasant business of saddling them up, and all the nasty prep work that goes with it...not to mention the logistical nightmare of actually getting UP IN THE SADDLE of one of those things!
My cousin told us which horse would be best for us and helped us saddle and by some miracle of God wrangle our way into the saddles (as 'luck' would have it...I sat on the "big boy" (yes the 17 hands high model) who's name was Thunder. My sister was on a much smaller mare and my cousin was on a large mare also.
We rode without event down the road and to a local cemetary...rode at a nice clip...not a gallop, not a trot. Just a nice steady pace...
AND THEN...
when I turned Thunder around he was (without my knowledge or understanding) "bolting for the barn" in the fashion that some horses do when they are in the process of being "broke".
We were galloping at such a high rate of speed I was rarely touching the saddle...and I was finding it increasingly harder to keep my feet in the stirrups. To my horror, as the horse was running full tilt, the saddle which I had so painstakingly tightened around his belly had worked its way loose and was now beginning to slide down the side of this massive animal.
As we rounded the corner of the road, I was riding literally sideways, trying desperately to hang on with my legs...coming dangerously close to the underside of said beast.
My cousin and sister had to really kick it into high gear to keep up, and finally, as we went up the driveway, I was hanging UNDERNEATH (I kid you not) Thunder pleading for my life. My cousin made his way into the drive just as thunder entered the barn, and the saddle finally came unhitched and dumped me on the barn floor, along with the saddle on top of me (I have a sister who will testify on a stack of Holy Bibles this is all true). I was SO terrified...and ANGRY, I jumped up and began chasing my cousin all over the barn, screaming at him at the top of my lungs, "What's the MATTER with you? Do you NOT have a brain? I could have been killed! Did you do that on PURPOSE? I could have been killed" You KNEW he ran for the barn, didn't you? You did this on PURPOSE, didn't you???"
My cousin was laughing so hard he finally had to stop running to catch his breath. My sister said it was some of the best circus stunt riding she'd ever seen.
I swore I would never get ON or go NEAR a horse EVER again...
Fortunately for me, I've gotten over it and have instead chosen to never go near my COUSIN again. A MUCH better deal!
Thanks for asking! lol
Hugs,
Paula Clare
I'm a city girl but l year when my son was only about 7 or 8 years old we went to the county fair. At the fair they were giving away a beautiful shetland pony with the cutest little saddle. Oh my son wanted that pony. Please can we put our name in for the drawing. Well we had about 1 chance in 2,000 or more. WE WON! That little beauty was ours... at least for a week. We visited the pony every day. We lived in a small house and couldn't keep her but for that one week my son had a pony all his own. That seemed to be enough for him... please his sweet heart.
PS The pony went to live on a farm and was loved the rest of his life at a sweet little girl.
I have loved horses since before I could walk. I lived and breathed horses. I finally got my first horse at age 14. Horses were my best friend. My youth horse lived to be 38. I took a break from horses when I married and had young children. Today at age 56 I have two horses and one miniature donkey. They are just pasture ornaments, but give much pleasure. I do not think I will every outgrow my love of horses.
Michle
Hi Elizabeth,
When I was a kid, my cousins had horses and of course visiting them was the BEST!!! SO, we would ride horses with them and me being a city girl, knew nothing about riding a horse and I sure didn't know that you can ride a horse bareback...well...that's what we did...and I hung on for dear life and my legs were killing me...somehow I never fell off..however it took me awhile to get the horse back to the house. I sure felt like a "big" horse rider going bareback. My sister has horses today because of our cousins.
Warmly,
Deb
darling little bird!
i went to a rodeo years ago --- and got to see George Strait (yes the country singer) rope. He was/is a real cowboy before he made it big as a singer and still rodeo's from time to time!
I'm born and raised in Texas and I LOVE the rodeo! It's so freakin' fun and exciting. Sometimes it's a bit scary though especially when it comes to bull riding.
I'm not a lover of recent country music but I am obsessed with country music from the 60s plus I love Donna Fargo, Dolly Parton (not too much but I love her voice mostly), Linda Ronstadt (my favorite!), Buck Owens, and oh gosh so many more!
Hi E. Love your story and your little cowboys are just too digity dang cute!
We lived in a country town growing up. When you'd tell people you live in Callahan they just assumed it was on a farm with chickens and cows. But I lived in the city limits on Main Street, USA. You know uptown for a small town with an old fashioned Sundries (Drug store - teen hangout), right across the street. Growing up I longed for a horse. I would come home from school and silly me would sit at the foot of the bed looking in the dresser mirror, bouncing and pretending I was riding a beautiful horse. I begged my Dad to move us to the country so I could have that horse but it was always no.
So I had a brilliant idea. I got my money out of my piggy bank went a couple of doors down to the Western Auto and bought a House for sale sign. We knew the proprietors, small town, everyone knew everyone. I told them I was putting our house up for sale.
Daddy came home and said why in the _ _ _ _ is there a for sale sign in the yard. Moma didn't know a thing about it either but they knew who did it. I told them I wanted a horse and we had to move to the country so I could have it. The sign came right down and my dream was crushed.
Hugs...Tracy :)
Would a story about a donkey count? I have never been around horses much but my Gramps raised donkeys. Anyways one day my cousins and I we out at the donkey lot. I decided to be a show off and jump on Jingles the donkeys back without a saddle. As expected she went nuts kicking and rearing and then headed to her little tin shed. My life flashed before my eyes I was gonna be beheaded. At the very last minute my guardian angel shoved my head down and my head just scraped the roof. I very cautiously slid off of her and got out of that shed. Learned my lesson never jumped on a donkeys back again. :) Have a great day! Love your blog
Ohhhh...wait for me...I would love to own anything from the 'Creative Breathing' Studio.
Garth Brooks holds a very dear place in my heart, too. During his 'Glory Days', it was also my family's 'Glory Days' and all the boys in our house dressed like Cowboys for a few years and listened to Garth, Vince, George Strait, Chris LaDoux, etc. Whenever I hear a Garth Brooks song, I fondly remember our own 'glory days'. : )
Mary Lou
I loved going to the car races and the rodeos when I was a child. I have fond memories of these events.
Though my favorite story isn't that OF either, it is one that sticks in my head. My uncle owned a dairy and it was always great fun to go out there and play. One day my cousin and I were climbing on the fence rail. He told me to jump down into the corral and pointed to a good spot. It looked hard on the surface...but it was not. I sank to my knees in cow stuff.....you know - good ol' cow pies.. yuk! If only I had some good cowboy boots and chaps..
LOVE Garth!!!
xoxo
Becky
I can't top these wonderful stories you have been left on your blog. What a wonderful post and what fun reading the replies!
Please enter me into a chance to win Mr. Bluebird! Thanks.
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