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Just some thoughts:
Early this A. M. I pulled out of my drive headed to my coffee place. It is such a routine I think my old Vette might find its way there by itself. I put the top down and slipped on a Don Williams cassette. Yes, cassette.
If you don't know who Don Williams is, well he is a very successful as of now semi-retired country music singer. The first song to come on was a favorite of mine and favorite for more than one reason. I love the song, the thoughts but it also brings back a memory for me.
A few years back Williams was doing a concert at Lipscomb University here in Nashville. My wife and I went. The old rock-n'-roll group the Platters opened the show. Then prior to Williams Keith Urban performed and spoke of his love of Williams and his music. It was a great show.
Following William's performance there was a "Meet and greet." A meet and greet is where generally if you purchased a certain ticket ($$) a few minutes after the performer comes off stage you will then be invited backstage to meet the artist. Generally a line is formed and folks make their way to where the performer is standing or sitting. They greet you, thank you for coming and also, pictures taken, a cd signed, etc.
On this particular evening as I was standing backstage in such a line I noticed these ladies. I would judge two of them to have been in their mid-thirties along with a lady about my age, in line a few feet behind me. I became engaged in conversation with them. I found out it was two daughters and their mother. They had traveled to Nashville from Wyoming just for this evening and to see Williams in concert. They had never seen Williams before. I also learned that just a few weeks prior their father, the husband and father had died. Their parents favorite performer was you guessed it, Don Williams. They told me Williams music was always played in their home, car and had been played at their dads funeral. They spoke further of their parents love and appreciation for Williams. I was beginning to get the picture.
Just after I left the line I pulled aside Williams "handler." That is someone they often will have with the performer to aid with this process. Quickly I shared with the handler what I learned about the two daughters and their bring their mother all the way from Wyoming and the death they all recently suffered.
I stepped over to the side and watched something that for me was just a meaning as Williams singing that song. As the three of them stepped up to meet Williams I heard him say, "I understand you folks came a long way to see the show tonight and I'm sorry about the passing of your father and husband." The lady was speechless, she put her hand to her mouth and started to cry. Williams then just put his arms around her and held her for the moment.
Every time I hear that song I think not only of the words but I think of what the singer of that song did for those three ladies on that night.
Priceless.
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May 14, 2014
Keep on,
Larry Adamson