THANKFULNESS

I know I'm late in getting this post well.....posted.  The turkey and dressing is long gone and we are rushing into the Christmas season, but I want to slow down for a minute and recall my Thanksgiving.

Mr. W's Mom (Memaw) never put any pressure on us about when or where we got together as a family for Christmas.  But, she loved Thanksgiving and she loved having all of the family together on Thanksgiving.  This worked out great for me.  My Mom (Gammy) was very firm that our family was having Christmas together on Christmas Eve evening.  There was never any negotiating on this.  So, we spent most Thanksgivings with Mr. W's family and Christmas Eve with my family.  Some of my favorite memories as part of the W family are Thanksgiving memories. 

Memaw and Pepaw had a small house.  It was only about 1000 square feet.  So, it was always a puzzle as to how we could all get in her dining area to have dinner.  Mr. W and I had 2 children and DWW and Barb had 4 children.  Finally, Memaw and Pepaw started suggesting, that if the weather was nice, we should have Thanksgiving at "the lake."  We started spending many Thanksgivings at "the lake." 

The kids loved it because basically, they just loved being there anytime of the year.  The weather is usually GREAT in November in Texas.  We weren't confined in a 1000 sq. ft. house.  It was a win-win situation all the way around. 

After Memaw and Pepaw were no longer able to go to the lake, we would try to still get together at the lake with DWW's family, but life seemed to get in the way.  When your kids grow up and get married, you have to share them with in-laws and schedules tend not to work out.  But, this year, we made a concentrated effort to try and get everyone together.  Miraculously, everyone was there except for Daughter and her family and one of DWW's grandsons.  Barb worried about the weather and changed her mind about coming several times.  But, the weather was cloudy but basically good.

Our nephew, Jason, who lost his wife 3 months ago, came with his son, Gavin.  Thanksgiving was Jason's birthday and the Sunday after Thanksgiving was Gavin's birthday.  It was good that they were with family for their birthdays this year.  Our other nephew's wife made them a birthday cake and we all celebrated their birthday which helped them feel not so sad.  For those of you who have lost someone you love, the "first" everything is hard to go through.  I would think it is especially hard for someone who is only 9 years old.

As I looked around at everyone, a lot of those earlier Thanksgiving memories came back and I realized how quickly time goes by and you can't get it back.  So, I was very thankful that we were all together making more memories.  I was thankful that Son and his family were spending Thanksgiving with us because they usually don't.  DIL's family were all going different directions this year which gave them the opportunity to be with us.  I was thankful that not one day in my life have I ever had to go hungry because there wasn't enough food or because I couldn't afford to buy food.  We had a feast. I was thankful that I live in the USA and all of our families have freedom.  We have our problems and some of them are major problems.  But, I would rather live here than any other place on earth.  I was thankful that God loves me and has allowed me to live a healthy life and to live to see my children grown and have my grandchildren.

I could go on and on.  I have been blessed beyond measure and far more than I deserve.  But, I also know that family is one of my biggest blessings and one thing that I am the most thankful for.  We have many friends that we love as if they were family and I am thankful for them too. 

So, I don't want to be like the marketing companies in our world and just skip over Thanksgiving and go straight to Christmas.  I want to always remember to slow down and be thankful.  I hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving.

Barb and her oldest daughter, Tami

Jeremy's son Ryder

Jason and Gavin

Son and Boy-child

Jason and Mr. W

 

Son, DIL, and Girl-child



DIL, Tami, Aja, Julie

DWW and Barb's children = Jeremy, Tami, Jason, Julie

Jeremy entertaining us with his guitar and his singing

Squeaky and Ryder riding around in Squeaky's VW. :)

 

RANDOM THINGS

First of all, I am back in Texas.  We left Branson on November 10th to head back.  Last year, we left the same time and were in 20 degree weather for about a month.  When we left this year, it was chilly, but no where near 20 degrees.

Of course, before we left, we went to Silver Dollar City to see all the Christmas lights and Christmas shows.  They put up 5 million, yes I said 5 million, Christmas lights.  They start putting them up in July!  Why take them down???  They leave them up until January.  If it takes the same amount of time to take them down and put them up as it does to put them up, they would finally be put up in June.  You know.......just in time to get them out in July.  Oh  well, I guess someone needs a job.

The shows they put on each year are really, really good and really professional.  They do A Christmas Carol and It's a Wonderful Life.

Did I mention that our water heater sprang a leak?  Well it did.  The tank is still under warranty, the labor is not.  We found a good RV repair guy in Conroe/Willis area and made an appointment for him to replace the water heater.  The brand of water heater is Suburban.  Suburban sent the water tank to him and he contacted the extended warranty company to get the OK on the labor.  It ended up costing us only $75. 

We have also had some problems with our water pump.  Back when the trailer and the water pump was still under factory warranty, we asked Camping World to look at it.  They told us that nothing was wrong with the water pump.  Just put a big sign on our foreheads in big red ink that reads "Suckers."  Something has been wrong with it for a while and now the trailer isn't under factory warranty.  Mr. W pulled the water pump out yesterday and believes that Camping World probably made it worse by what/hot they did to it when they had it.  Ugh.  We know better than to take anything to Camping World but at the time, it was the only RV repair shop we knew of in Columbia, SC.

We have managed to miss all of the rain that Texas and H-town has had this year.  However, a severe thunderstorm passed through here on Tuesday.  It brought torrential downpours and severe winds with tornado warnings.  Fortunately, we didn't get any tornadoes, but we discovered a leak.  Geez, when it rains, it pours!  Sorry.  You knew I was going to have to go there. :)  Anyway, Mr. W investigated to find the leak and thinks he has.  He bought some Dycor (?) and put it on the roof around some screws and a vent and skylight.  He thinks it has something to do with one of the air conditioners, but he isn't sure.  We are suppose to get some more rain in a few days.  We will see if we still have a leak of not.

It is Grandparent's Day tomorrow at the grandkids' school.  I am really looking forward to being able to be there tomorrow.  I told Mr. W that we are going to have to make it a point to be at the Grandparent's Day for the other grandkids in Columbia next year.  They usually have it in September or October. 

We have a birthday/dinner party Saturday night and Girl-child is dancing in her ballet school's production of The Nutcracker on Sunday.  Whew! When we get back to town, our schedule becomes very busy again.  But, I wouldn't want it any other way.

After all the rain on Tuesday, I looked outside as the sun was setting and saw a beautiful sight.  Thought I'd let you see it too. 

So, there you go.  It feels good to be back "home".

CLAY COOPER

The park where we have a membership in Branson has an annual meeting every year on the last Saturday in October.  Since I am there at that time, I usually attend.  The meeting is actually a lot more than "business" of the park.  There are entertainers there and they give away MANY door prizes.  This year, I had made the statement that we never have won any of the door prizes.  Sure enough, we won 2 tickets to see the Clay Cooper show.

Well, boy, that turned out to be a GREAT prize!  We went to see Clay Cooper's Christmas show.  Most of the theaters do half of their regular show and half a Christmas show during the Christmas season.  Clay Cooper was no different.  Everyone told us that we would enjoy his show and we sure did.  This was one of the best shows we saw this year. 

Born to a musical family in Wylie, Texas, his grandmother played the piano for the Wylie Baptist Church, and gave piano lessons for twenty years.  His dad played guitar and performed at all local Opry shows.  Clay first began singing at the Wylie Opry at the age of fourteen, and continued to perform there until 1986, when he then joined the Texas Goldminors at age 16 and moved to Branson, performing at the Ozarks Country Jubilee. Since 1986, Clay has worked for many area shows, including the Country Review Show in Eureka Springs, Arkansas, the Down Home Country Show, the Buck Trent Show, the Jim Owens Show and Country Tonite, where he spent nine years as lead vocalist and emcee.  In 2003, Clay joined his buddy, Paul Harris, as the featured male vocalist in Paul Harris Live. Clay and his wife, Tina, began Clay Cooper’s Country Music Express in 2005 as a morning show in Branson, Missouri.  It has evolved into one of the best evening shows in Branson.
Clay loves singing and playing bass, and loves meeting new people. He interacts a lot with the audience and is very quick with his comebacks and reactions to everything that his audience might say.  He now celebrates his 29th season performing.

There is something for everyone in the show.  There are dancers.  Clay's wife is one of the dancers and she does all of the choreography for the show.  They have 2 sons who also perform in the show.

There is singing by not only Clay, but also by Ezrah Noelle. Ezrah Noelle joined the Clay Cooper Show in May of 2012.   She is an extremely energetic 11 year old singer, dancer, yodeler and songwriter.  Ezrah hails from Kingfisher, Oklahoma where she began her singing career in church when she was 20 months old.   She was introduced to the American Kids organization at 2 years old opening the door to many singing venues across Oklahoma, Texas and Missouri.   She has been televised on Sprint, Local Oklahoma Weather, Relay For Life commercials and has been a special guest on the Rodeo Opry show which airs all across Oklahoma.  Her YouTube videos have scored well over 3 million hits and contains many of her career performances.   Ezrah taught herself to yodel when she was 7 years old.  When she isn’t performing, Ezrah takes dance, place video games, and enjoys time with family.

And, there is lots and lots of comedy and laughing! Matt Gumm is the main comedian.  Matt literally grew up around variety shows at Lake of the Ozarks, so at the age of 30, he takes to the stage like a seasoned pro.  Matt was added to the Main Street Opry act at the age of seven. His mom will tell you that he spent everyday up on his bed, with a make-shift curtain that hung from the ceiling, with wigs and props doing his “show”. It was in these very early years that a family friend thought it would be “funny” to buy Matt a toy set of drums. Well, the joke was on him, because Matt started playing those things and he was a natural! All that practice may have been painful at times for the family, but it definitely paid off. While in High School, Matt was the only student chosen out of his class to attend the Missouri Fine Arts Academy because he excelled in Music, Art & Drama. Fresh out of high school, Matt spent 5 years developing his own reputation as a gifted comedian and musician on the stage of the long-running Lee Mace’s Ozark Opry in Osage Beach, Missouri. There he honed not only his comedy skills, but he came into his own with his impersonations. He’s brought the house down with his take on such artists as Garth Brooks, Stevie Wonder, Michael Jackson, Tony Bennett, Rod Stewart & Sammy Davis, Jr., just to mention a few. Clay Cooper caught his act and knew he wanted to be the first to introduce Matt to Branson. So, here he is!

I would definitely go back and see this show again.  Clay Cooper hangs around the lobby after each of his shows to talk with any and everyone at the show.  He seems to love the audience and the audience loves him.  What a great show.......go see it.

Dancers

Ezrah Noelle

One of the sons

Clay Cooper as Hank Jr.

 

Matt Gumm as Michael Jackson

Clay and his wife, Tina

 

BRANSON BELLE SHOWBOAT

It is the first of November and Christmas has come to Branson.  Yep, every year on November 1st, Branson turns into a winter wonderland of Christmas lights, Christmas decorations, and Christmas shows.  So, I am trying to take it all in before I leave.

I have said the past couple of years that I wanted to go on the Branson Belle Showboat to see their show.  They have a Christmas show that began November 1st, so this year, I booked it. We have friends and family up here and they decided to go too.

We were scheduled for the noon show (which includes a meal) but they start loading everyone on an hour early.  The first thing we noticed when we arrived was that the entire grounds were decorated for Christmas. 

DWW and SIL

The whole group

My expectations are never very high with food at dinner shows.  However, this food was really good.  The service was also great.

The Branson Belle

The main course.  We also had a salad and for desert we had an apple ice cream tart with caramel drizzle.

After dinner, we had about 45 minutes to roam the boat and take pictures of Table Rock Lake. 

Then the entertainment began.  A guy named Christopher James was the emcee.  He was great.  He is also a magician and did some pretty impressive magic tricks.  He involved people from the audience and some of the people involved were as funny as he was.  They weren't vocally funny, but some of the things they did as they participated were hysterical.  Some of the things they did even surprised him which made him laugh.

There was a 5 man group of singers that were very good.  There was a 4 man group of tap dancers call the Rythms that were pretty awesome.  And, there was a girl, Cassandre (Ca-san-dra) who sang and she had an amazing voice. The show was very good and went by quickly.  I really wasn't ready for it to end when it did.  When the show was over, we were back and docked, ready for our departure.  The weather was great so the cruising was very smooth.  When it is foggy or extremely windy or stormy, the boat never leaves dock.  They still load you on and the show still goes on, but you stay in dock.  I'm so glad the weather was nice so we could get out on the lake for a little bit.

Singing group and tap dancers
The dancers are the guys in the white shoes.

This is Cassandre.  Her voice was amazing and I found out that she is married to one of the Haygoods.

Singing group

Dancers

It wouldn't be Branson without a patriotic part to a show.

We have season tickets to Silver Dollar City so our tickets to the Branson Belle were half price.  They were $25 a tickets which is not bad for a show and a meal.  I really, really enjoyed this show and would like to do it again some time when I'm back in Branson.  They have 3 shows a day most days. A noon, 4:00, and 8:00 show most days.   This is definitely one not to miss!

PAUL HARRIS AND THE CLEVERLYS

I told you that shows in Branson are changing.  Well, I went to see Paul Harris and the Cleverlys and this is one unique show! 

Paul Harris, an Arkansas native, is widely known as a comedian, singer and musician, with tastes ranging from rock to bluegrass, and has been performing in Branson for nearly 20 years.

Having opened for comedian, Jeff Foxworthy and the most awarded group in Country Music’s history, Alabama, Paul seems to have plenty of experience working the audience with his comedy routine. While many comedians these days, “jump the line”, Paul's comedy is clean and family-friendly.  After his comedy routine, fellow musicians and singers come out and you are entertained with classic bluegrass style music.  One of the fellow musicians is the grandson of Charlie Rich.

There is a brief intermission and then the Cleverlys come out.  The Cleverlys are actually Paul and the band dressed differently and they do a comedy show that is different from anything else you have ever seen.  There were all ages represented at this show and all ages were laughing at this show.

Paul Harris and the Cleverlys are appearing at the Starlite Theater.  If you get the chance, go, especially if you like good, clean comedy.  You won't regret it.

 

Paul Harris and his group

Paul Harris and his group as the Cleverlys

RAILWAY TO HEAVEN

This past week, College of the Ozarks, put on a play titled Railway to Heaven.  It is a true story of an Ozarks POW from World War II.

The play was not heavily advertised, but I found out about it and wanted to see it.  Being a drama person in high school, I'm always up for a play!  To make this even better, it was free.  They did a final dress rehearsal for elementary/middle school students and then did a complete presentation for the public at 2:00 one afternoon.  I forgot my camera, so no pictures...... ;(

This play is about PFC Roy Hopper.  He grew up in Harrison, Arkansas.  He went off to war after his junior year of high school at the then, School of the Ozarks.  Mr. Hopper entered the army, spent 13 weeks at basic training, and arrived in Normandy, France, on June 13, 1944, just 7 days after D-Day.

Mr. Hopper served in the 357th regiment, working as a frontline infantryman.  On July 6, 1944, Hopper was taken prisoner and ultimately sent to a German Nazi labor camp.  He remained imprisoned for 9 1/2 months.  During that time, he and the other captured soldiers were faced with starvation, intensive labor, and gruesome circumstances.

During the winter of 1945, Hopper and 2 other prisoners escaped from the labor camp and ended up in a Red Cross shelter, where they were nursed back to health and sent home to America.  In 2001, 57 years later, PFC Hopper received an honorary high school diploma from his alma mater—now called College of the Ozarks.  General Colin Powell was there to present the honor.  At the end of the play, they played footage of him receiving his diploma and it was a very moving moment. Mr. Hopper had MS and was wheelchair bound, but Colin Powell helped him stand when he received his diploma.  Mr. Hopper was overcome with emotion.

“Because of great Americans such as Roy Hopper, we enjoy many freedoms that are too often taken for granted,” said C of O President Jerry C. Davis.  “The College recognizes those freedoms came at a cost and will ensure future generations know that truth and are willing to continue safeguarding those freedoms.”

Mr. Hopper lives in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

The  production was a good one.  I would highly recommend you go, even if you have to pay. 

In 2009, College of the Ozarks began the Patriotic Education Travel Program to further meet the College's Patriotic Goal designed to "encourage an understanding of American heritage, civic responsibilities, love of country and willingness to defend it."

The Patriotic Education Travel Program send Veterans back to their original theatres of war and pairs them with students for the experience, so that the younger generation will gain a lasting perspective on patriotism, service, and sacrifice, and so the Veterans' stories will never be forgotten.

Since it inception, the College has taken approximately 200 students and more than 100 Veterans to sites in Europe, the Pacific, Korea, and Vietnam.

The rich, educational journeys provide a life-changing experience for College of the Ozarks students, who not only learn volumes of history from first-hand participants, but grow to love and appreciate them.  The students return with a renewed respect for Veterans and a dramatically increased love of their country.  Maybe more schools should start a program like this!

RONNIE MILSAP

Ronnie Milsap was born January 16, 1943, in Robbinsville, North Carolina. A congenital disorder left him almost completely blind. Abandoned by his mother as an infant, he was raised by his grandparents in the Smoky Mountains until the age of five, when he was sent to the Governor Morehead School for the Blind in Raleigh, North Carolina. During his childhood he lost his remaining vision, and both his eyes were eventually removed.Throughout his childhood, he was interested in music—particularly the late-night broadcasts of country music, gospel music, and rhythm and blues.

When he was seven years old, his instructors began to notice his musical talents. Soon afterward he began studying classical music formally and learned several instruments, eventually mastering the piano. Within the next few years he also developed a passion for rock and roll music.

In December 1972, Milsap relocated to Nashville after a chance meeting with country music star Charley Pride who was in the audience for a Milsap gig at the nightclub Whiskey A-Go-Go. Pride was impressed with Milsap's singing and encouraged him to change course and focus on country music. Milsap began working with Pride's manager, Jack D. Johnson, and was signed to RCA Records in 1973.

He is credited with six Grammy Awards and forty No. 1 country hits, third to George Strait and Conway Twitty. He was selected for induction into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2014.

In November 2014, Milsap announced he would embark on a final concert tour. "You get to a place where you still have your health, but you know it's not given," explained Milsap. "I've been blessed with so many great songs, so many wonderful memories and stories -- and some of the very best fans in the business. Before I get to a place where it's not a celebration of the music, I want to go out and play all these hits for the people who love them as much as I do."

So, the concert in Branson last Sunday night was the last time Ronnie Milsap will be performing in Branson.  I bought tickets.  I love Ronnie Milsap music. 

I saw him in H-town back in the 80's when he was at the height of his success and it was an awesome concert.  He is blind, but he is definitely not hindered by that. His voice may not be as strong as it once was, but he can still play the heck out of the piano.  He played most all of his hit songs and people in the audience were singing along.  It was an awesome night.

Janie Fricke was the opening act.  Janie was a popular country music female singer in the 1980s.  She got her start singing jingles for commercials, she moved on to singing back-up for other artists, and eventually became Country Female Vocalist of the Year in 1982 and 1983.

It was great being able to see Ronnie Milsap and Janie Fricke.  It brought back so many good memories of so many great songs.  I LOVED it.

The concert was at the Moon River Theater.  I will say that the theater needs some help before they have a concert of this caliber there again.  They only had 1 door that you could enter AND there was only 1 mens' room and 1 ladies' room that you could use.  This was a sold out concert and the place seats 2000 people.  Not good.  I will think long and hard before I go to that theater again.

So, all in all, great night.  If you were a fan of country music in the 1980s and if Ronnie Milsap comes to a town near you on his farewell tour, go see him.  You will be glad you did.

Janie Fricke with Mo Bandy.  Mo is another country music singer from the 80s.  This was a surprise visit.  Mo Bandy and Joe Stampley are appearing together in Branson next weekend.

Janie Fricke

Ronnie Milsap singing and playing the piano.

Ronne Milsap at the end of the concert.

THE HAYGOODS

The Haygoods grew up in humble beginnings in Boerne, Texas. As children, they played music and sang at festivals and fairs across the United States.  In 1993, the family moved to Branson, Missouri and began performing daily shows at Silver Dollar City. For eight years, the family grew up in the theme park, performing five shows a day five days a week while taking music and dance lessons as well as completing schoolwork. The drive and persistence of oldest brother Timothy resulted in the family show become the most successful, highest rated show in the history of Silver Dollar City.

With a generous loan from their grandmother, the Haygoods took a giant risk and opened their own show on the Branson strip in 2001. The move from a theme park to town was more than a location change. The three oldest Haygoods also took creative and financial control of the show and began to make their mark on the show and music scene. The Haygoods became the youngest performing family to ever open their own show on the Branson strip.

In 2009, The Haygoods set about creating their own original music with the hope of reaching a national audience.  In 2012 and 2013 the Haygoods became the longest running most succesful first generation show in Branson Missouri and celebrated with a SOLD OUT 20th anniversary show with over 2,200 in attendance. 

Their show is one that supports the idea that Branson is changing and part of that change is trying to reach a younger audience.  The Haygoods use pyrotechnics in their show as well as special lighting. One of the brothers comes in on a wire from the ceiling playing a guitar upside down. Their song choices are of more pop music.  They get the audience involved by tossing beach balls into the audience and encouraging the audience to volley it from row to row back and forth as they sang Kenny Chesney's When The Sun Goes Down. There is also dancing and each of the performers are great musicians.  Catherine is the only sister.  There are five boys and one girl.  Each play several instruments with Catherine playing the most.  I felt like their instrument playing was better than their singing but I enjoyed both. 

One of the brothers is sort of the comedian of the show.  He played the banjo and he could REALLY play the banjo.  Since the banjo is associated with backwoods rednecks, he rode around on a motorized ice chest and in a camo recliner.  He was funny at times.  There were a few lulls in the scripts and one of the brothers who is suppose to be funny too, was not.  They need to work on that area of the show but overall, it is well worth seeing.