I’m a Widow

Posted on August 3, 2016 by Sheila Moss

Anders_Zorn-The_WidowI’m a widow. Don’t you hate that word? Sounds like I’m a black widow spider. Men don’t want to date me because they think I’ll kill and eat them. It’s tough when you are too young to be a widow, but not yet old enough to give up on life.

But, I’m getting use to widowhood now. I’ve learned to be careful. I’m not sure what I’m suppose to be careful about – but every time I meet someone, my friends all say, “just be careful!” I think maybe they mean, “Be suspicious, he is only after your insurance money and pension.” There is one really bad catch about a widow’s pension – if she remarries, she usually loses it. Maybe that’s why the black widow spider is such a bitch. She’s got to get rid of him before he proposes!

When I meet somebody new, I let him think I’m divorced. It’s less of a problem that way. A divorcee is viewed as a desirable, sexy, fun-loving, free spirit. When you’re a widow, they figure you probably nagged some poor schmuck till you sent him to his grave. People can say the meanest things to widows.

Some divorcees say I am lucky because at least I don’t have to put up with an ex. Funny, I don’t feel very lucky. People never really understand. Death is such a depressing thing. Nobody wants to talk about it. They are afraid it might upset me. Upset me? One of the worse things that can happen in life happened to me. I’ve been to hell and back! If you want to upset me, pretend it never happened.

And the kids… what do you say to the kids when you’re finally ready to invite a new man into your life? “Mommy knows how much you miss daddy – I miss him too. And by the way, here’s the new guy I’m dating.”

I guess it’s not easy to date a widow. How can anyone complete with a memory? When you are divorced, the ex-hubby is always around to remind everyone what a S.O.B. he is: late with the alimony payments, flaunting the latest woman that he picked up who knows where, forgetting the kids’ visitation day. But when he’s dead, he can’t aggravate you any more. He gave you all he had — nothing to criticize there.

Then the kids grow up and leave home and you’re all alone with nothing but your pension to keep you warm. Talk about an empty web! So what do you do? Sit home on your pedestal and cry? Marry and throw your monthly pension check out the window? Or kill your mother, shame your family, and live in sin? I know what you are thinking – you naughty person, you!

So, I met someone, at last – on the Internet. We have a lot in common. He’s a Yankee – I’m a Rebel. He’s Jewish – I’m Protestant; he has a dog – I have a cat; he has an SUV – I have a sports car; he eats Kosher – I eat ham. Can you see why we were attracted to each other? But, we both have Gateway computers. The question is: Is that enough to base a long-term relationship on?

Well, thank you for listening to my problems. Don’t worry about me – I’m a survivor, and I never did look good in black. I’ll just sit here quietly on my pedestal and try not to fall off or do anything to remind you we are all mortal.

Just do me one favor. Don’t be afraid to talk about death. And call me single, call me unmarried, call me a spinster – oh, hell, call me a widow – who cares?

Copyright 1999 Sheila Moss
Posted in Humor, Rants | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 7 Comments

Good Intentions Diet Menu

Posted on August 1, 2016 by Sheila Moss

Good Intentions Diet Menu

~ Monday ~

Breakfast:
 Aspirin and black coffee – It’s Monday!
Lunch:
 Didn’t have time to fix a sack lunch. Go out for fast food.  Nibble a few French fries and eat a hot dog. Smell of fast food makes me sick. Drink a 7 up to settle my stomach and get a candy bar out of the office vending machine for energy.
Dinner:
 Too tired to cook. Order a pizza from the delivery place
and promise to start dieting tomorrow.

pizza

~ Tuesday ~

Breakfast:
 Drat it! Overslept – Eat cold leftover pizza in the car on the way to work.
Lunch:
 Sick – must be the pizza…
Dinner:
 Starving! Need some food FAST! Stop at McBurger’s for chef’s salad, but by the time I get to front of line to place order, salad becomes Quarter Pounder with large fries and coke. (Boy, they sure make those fries smell good!) Er…Make that a diet coke – trying to cut down on calories!

burger

~ Wednesday ~
Breakfast:
 Eating too much fast food – skip breakfast, starting DIET today!
Lunch:
 Salad bar with diet dressing and water with lemon
Dinner:
 Veggie stir fry and black coffee.
Go to bed hungry

~ Thursday ~

Breakfast:
 Starving, but determined! Low fat Granola Bar and fruit flavored yogurt – not bad, so I have another.
Lunch:
 Weight Watcher’s frozen dinner – Think of all the calories saved!
Dinner:
 Eat out: Filet mignon, baked potato, and salad. No sour cream on potato, (After all, I’m on a diet.) Three glasses of wine.  (He ordered a whole bottle and I can’t be impolite, can I?)

winw

~ Friday ~

Breakfast:
 Grapefruit juice and 4 aspirin – must be the wine…
Lunch:
 “Girl’s Day Out” – We know a great little Italian place.
Lasagna with meat sauce.  (It’s not on the diet, but what the heck, I deserve it after working all week.)
Dinner:
 “Two-for-price-of-one” frozen margaritas and free peanuts during Happy Hour. After two margaritas and a bucket of peanuts, I’m not even hungry for dinner!

~ Saturday ~

Breakfast:
 Errands to run, things to do – don’t have time to eat!
Lunch:
 Ditto, have dinner date for tonight anyhow. Need to be hungry.
I’ll just have a few chocolate chip cookies to keep from starving.
Dinner:
 Land and Sea (he’s buying) – Whoops! Need a doggie bag – they give you way too much food here. No dessert, though, still on a diet – I’ll just eat half of his dessert…

~ Sunday ~

Breakfast:
 Coffee and Danish.
What the heck, it’s the weekend – another sweet roll, please!
Lunch:
 Microwave the leftovers from dinner last night, steak and baked potato with dinner roll. (No point wasting it as expensive as it was.)
Dinner:
 Microwave popcorn. Okay, I don’t want to spend all weekend cooking and I’m not very hungry anyhow after eating lunch. If I get hungry later, I’ll just eat some ice cream. I can start my diet next week.

icecream

 (See Monday)

©1999 Sheila Moss
Posted in Food, Health, Humor | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Take Me Out to the Ballgame

Posted on August 1, 2016 by Sheila Moss
Nashville’s First Tennessee ParkFirst_Tennessee_Park,_April_17,_2015_-_16.jpg
Nashville’s First Tennessee Park  – Photo by NatureBoyMD – CC – BY-SA 4.0 2015

I did something I’ve never done before, went to a minor league baseball game.  In Nashville, we have no major league baseball team, but we do have AAA ball.  Our team, called the “Sounds” is affiliated with the Oakland Athletics since 2015, but “affiliation shuffles” happen from time to time and minor league teams are traded like free agent players. I suppose the grass always looks greener under another team.

Having lived in great baseball cities like St. Louis and Chicago, I’ve been to a number of major league games and was a big baseball fan at one time.  I had games down to science for a while.  I knew how early to go to beat the crowds, where to park, how to beat the prices on the overpriced cokes, where the best cheap seats were, what inning to leave to get out before the traffic jam — all the essential information.  I followed all the statistics on players and knew who was what and where the team ranked, all the stuff being a fan is made of.

Of course, the minor league is a different world. Before they had the new downtown stadium, old Greer field sort of reminded me in a nostalgic way of  Wrigley Field in Chicago. Now a shiny, new, state-of-the-art, downtown stadium has been built for the Sounds with a view of the downtown skyline. People rave about food options that are better than traditional ballpark fare, such as fried chicken. There are giveaways and promotions,  a lot of advertising, and family-friendly entertainment. There are fan hosts, mascots doing stunts between every inning, kids parading around the field, and a “rah, rah” guitar-shaped scoreboard.

In minor league ball, the idea of the game is to play well enough for the team to not have to play for the team anymore. (Read that again if you need too.) So much for team spirit.  That also means the team is never going to be really good because the really good players go on to the major leagues and live happily every after — sometimes. Often, however, they are not quite good enough and get sent back to the minors. It seemed like a status thing to have been up – a taste of fame, I suppose.

I didn’t know who anyone was, what kind of player, or even what they position they played without looking it up, which took a lot out of the game.  Fortunately, I had a friend who follows baseball and knew who had been sent up and back and who had never been up. I missed having the play-by-play explanation that I used to get when I took my portable radio along at the major league games.

The action was pretty good.  After major league ball, of course, there was something not quite the same.  They missed double plays, didn’t get the good hits, didn’t steal, and didn’t field as well. My friend says that’s why it is called “minor league” ball.  Now they were not bad players, mind you, they still were good athletes — just not great athletes.

What was missing was the spectacular plays and super stars that give major league ball its excitement, the impossible to catch ball that is caught, the base that is stolen right under the pitcher’s nose, the long hard hits that go where they are suppose to go just when they are needed, and the sometimes unbelievably cool control of the pitchers.  Major league baseball is more than just a game. It is a continuing display of great athletic prowess and super ability.  You know you are seeing something special.

But, all said… I did like the minor league game. It was still baseball and there was an air of reality about it that has been removed from the majors. The great thrills were missing. The promotions between games and the refreshment vendors seem to hold the attention of the crowd more than the actual game itself. Of course, when they are losing that does not especially help crowd enthusiasm either.

They tell me that the word “fan” is a shortened version of  “fanatic.”  If I went more often and got to know the players, who knows? Maybe I could be fanatic again.

©Sheila Moss 1999-2016
Updated

Baseball is sometimes called the all-American sport. Do you go to games, watch on TV, or have better things to do with your time?

Posted in Humor, Sports | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Rules of the Road in Tennessee

Posted on July 30, 2016 by Sheila Moss

pickup

Drive a pickup truck or SUV. They are bigger than the other cars on the road so you can drive faster. A pickup truck is best as you never know when you might want to haul junk or something.

Drive with your bright lights on, especially when following a smart aleck in a sports car. You have to be able to see where you are going, don’t you?

If the a traffic light turns yellow, accelerate to get through it before it changes to red so you won’t have to stop.

Never use a signal light to change lanes. The other cars will think you are going to turn left in front of them and slam on their brakes.

Always tailgate. If you leave any space, someone might get ahead of you.

Exceed the speed limit to avoid getting rear ended.

If traffic is stopped on the Interstate, drive on the shoulder of the road and get off at the next exit.

If you change your mind or miss the exit, use the shoulder of the road to back up. That’s what it’s for.

Never expect salt on the road when it snows. Salt costs money. It’s everyone for themselves under hazardous conditions.

Never stay home because you don’t know how to drive in snow. Get out as early as possible to see how bad it is.

Semi trucks with double trailers should always drive in the left-hand passing lane as they are in a bigger hurry than everyone else.

Gasoline tankers should drive as fast as possible through urban areas so they will endanger public safety for a shorter period of time.

Never slow down or brake until you have to in order to avoid wearing out your brakes. Also, use your windshield wipers on low speed to keep from wearing them out.

Slow down and rubberneck at construction equipment on the side of the road to see if you can tell how much longer it will be until they are finished.

If there is an accident, slow down and take a really good look to show everybody how glad you are that it is someone else and not you.

If the road narrows down and number of lanes decreases, drive as fast as you can in the lane that is ending and dart in front of someone at the last minute. You can always bluff them.

Out-of-state drivers and tourists deserve no special consideration just because they are not familiar with the road. Cut them off, if possible, and teach them to stay out of your way next time.

Never drive with the flow of traffic. Weave in and out and use all available lanes to prove how good you can drive.

Make the most of your commute time by smoking, drinking coffee, eating, adjusting the gadgets on the dashboard, talking on your cell phone, or texting while you drive. Just try to keep one hand on the wheel most of the time.

Drive a bit under the speed limit in the HOV or passing lane. That is fast enough and it will teach everyone else to slow down.

Never slow down or allow traffic to merge in front of you. Getting on the Interstate or changing lanes is their problem. Let them outrun you – if they think they can.

Remember, be aggressive and don’t let people run over you. It isn’t your fault they don’t know how to drive.

©1999 Sheila Moss
Posted in Automotive, Humor | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 8 Comments

The Importance of Being Stupid

Posted on July 29, 2016 by Sheila Moss

womaneyes

I love being stupid. I don’t have to lie when I “play dumb” to get out of things. In fact no one even asks me to do anything very often because they figure, “Oh, her, she can’t do it…she’s too stupid!”

I love being stupid. When I can’t balance the checkbook, nobody says, “What’s the matter, you stupid or something?” (They think they already know the answer.)

I love being stupid. All my friends figure they can’t depend on me to help them with anything. I don’t even have to refuse them or think of excuses.

I love being stupid. I never have to cook. I don’t have to get my hands dirty or try to figure out how much ½ of ¾ cup of sugar is. In fact, I go out to eat a lot.

I love being stupid. I don’t have to worry about mechanical things. Obviously, when something breaks down, someone else will have to fix it. Regardless of the cost and inconvenience, it is just one of those things that can’t be helped.

I love being stupid. When my computer crashes, I don’t have to try to figure it out myself before I call for technical support.

I love being stupid. Nobody ever asks me for directions. I guess they think I’m stupid – even though they are the one who’s lost.

I love being stupid. I get invited to all the greatest parties, and never have to help with the decorating or refreshments. Everybody thinks I’ll do it wrong or spill something, so they just go ahead and do it themselves.

I love being stupid. When I drive, people let me merge. They always signal to change lanes too. They figure as stupid as I am, no telling what I might do if they cut me off or make me really angry.

I love being stupid. When I go shopping, the sales clerks all try to help me. I get great service and extra attention. They want to get rid of me before I do anything stupid.

I love being stupid. When telemarketers call, I just say, “What? I don’t understand!” And after they explain, I say: “Huh?” They finally just figure I’m so dumb they are better off to leave me with the old phone carrier or credit card company.

I love being stupid. I know that I will make it to the top as a manager without having to know a thing. I mean, just think of most of the bosses you’ve ever had. Weren’t they all just a bit… well, you know… s-t-u-p-i-d?

I love being stupid! I get to try all sorts of new things and if they don’t work out, nobody is surprised or shocked because they didn’t expect anything I do to work out anyhow. And if it should happen to work out, they’ll figure it is probably just dumb luck!

I love being stupid! I have tons of friends because nobody wants a friend who is smarter than they are.

I love being stupid. I never worry about getting anywhere on time because people just figure: “Here comes stupid – late again.”

Actually, there is only one disadvantage I can think of to being stupid. It is that I can’t rent myself out as consultant because nobody wants my stupid advice.

©Sheila Moss 1999
Edited for length
Posted in Education, Humor | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

Brrrs, I’m Freezing

Posted on July 28, 2016 by Sheila Moss

freezing.jpg

Why, oh, why is it so cold in city offices in the middle of summer?  They keep the air conditioning so low that it feels like Antartica most of the time.  I wouldn’t be surprised to see a penguin go strolling by.  I really don’t get it.  It’s not just one office either – every office is the same way.

If nothing else, you would think that offices would prefer to save money on utilities by not freezing everyone to death.  I have to wear a sweater nearly all summer and even then I am still cold.  I could use earmuffs and mittens, but it would be pretty hard to talk on the phone or use the computer.

Someone told me that offices are kept so cold because men wear suit jackets and they get warm.  Perhaps that is the case. Perhaps it is just another instance of female discrimination. If that is true, though, why are restaurants and movie theaters the same way?  I can rarely enjoy a meal in a restaurant without shivering thru the whole meal.

I suppose theaters operate on the premise that they must stay a little cold because the presence of a large audience will warm the auditorium and it will soon be uncomfortable.   I’ve pretty much leaned not to go to a movie without dragging a jacket along, no matter how hot and sweltering it is outside.

It isn’t that I don’t like air conditioning.  This is the South, folks, and it gets hot here.  We need air.  In fact, it can be a real emergency when it quits working.  I’ve tried complaining about too much of a good thing. But apparently it is just too hard to keep large buildings evenly cooled.  After technicians “fix” the air, it seems colder than ever. I secretly wonder if they are teaching me a lesson about complaining.

Maybe the office is really a science fiction movie and my body temperature is being gradually lowered so I can be put into suspended animation. Bring me some hot coffee, quick!  My brain cells are definitely beginning to slow down.  Am I the only person being frozen to death at my desk?

It really is difficult to use a keyboard when my fingers are stiff with cold and my lips are blue.  I am sure one of these cold mornings when I come in to work; I will need an ice scraper for my monitor.  It is really no wonder that people are sick all the time.  It is freezing cold inside, but when you walk out the door the heat smacks you like a blast from the furnace. Someone suggested reversing wardrobes and wearing sweaters and boots in the summer and lightweight dresses in the winter.  Maybe that would work.  My toes get so cold sometimes that I get up and walk around to prevent frostbite.

You are probably thinking that I am just “cold natured.” Maybe I am, but I don’t think I am the only one. Other people complain of how cold the air conditioning is too. I don’t know if the cooling and heating technicians think they are doing us a favor by giving us extra coldness, or if they just want to be sure we don’t get too warm and go to sleep.  Or, maybe they are trying to build up the character of the office staff with suffering?  I don’t know what the solution is.  Maybe a portable space heater under my desk or a heating pad to put my on my feet?

I think I will take a “thawing out” break and see if I can find a warm spot any place.  If I don’t return, send out the rescue team with a thermos of warm brandy. I’m so wired from drinking hot coffee I can’t drink any more. Maybe I could light a fire in the recycle bin and keep warm like the homeless do.  I have always heard that death from freezing is an easy way to go.

On huskies, I think there’s a blizzard on the ninth floor and it’s moving our way!

©Sheila Moss 1999
Posted in Humor, Work Humor | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 6 Comments

Tips & Tricks: Keeping pets safe during a heatwave by PDSA

Posted on July 27, 2016 by Sheila Moss

Dear Folks, This info is so important, I wanted to share it with my readers. If you read my column on a regular basis, you know that I love both cats and dogs. Please be sure your animals have water and shade during this heat.

Posted in Humor | Leave a comment

Elvis Land

Posted on July 27, 2016 by Sheila Moss

Embed from Getty Images

Yes, it’s all true. In Tennessee we do worship Elvis. Everyone in Tennessee knows all the words to “Blue Suede Shoes” and “Hound Dog” by heart. It is  well-established that nearly everyone in Tennessee has natural musical talent, and can play a guitar proficiently, by ear, without lessons, which makes us appreciate even more a super star like El.

We think so much of him, that nearly everyone in Tennessee has at least one painting of him hanging prominently in our home, preferably done on black velvet. Of course, you already suspected this, didn’t you?

At least once in a lifetime, the entire population of Tennessee makes a pilgrimage to Graceland, shrine to the King of Rock & Roll, and his home while in this world. We just want to be close to the place where the King once lived and walked. Kind of makes us feel all tingly inside to be so close to his ghost — at least we believe it is a ghost. Some claim that Elvis is not gone at all, that he still lives and is faking his own death because he was so tired of fame and the responsibility that comes with it.

The faithful believers have spotted the King in various locations all over the world, still in sideburns and a sequined jump suit, with his pelvis still wiggling, even after all these years. Of course, you heard about all this, didn’t you?

Elvis was really two people, even when he was alive, you know. There was the young Elvis, with the surly lips, pelvic gyrations, and sideburns, who many think was the true Elvis; and there was the mature Elvis, a parody of himself, who wore sequins, performed his own songs, and eventually became dependent on drugs, unable withstand the pressures of his own notoriety. Perhaps his “afterlife” is exaggerated, but the effect of his influence on music and culture is undeniable.

Elvis was one of those people with a genuine charisma that somehow captured the hearts and imaginations of the youth of his time. That is why the dream of every young person in the 50’s was to someday own a pink Cadillac. In Tennessee we have become accustomed to people laughing at Elvis, at his tackiness, at the unbelievable absurdity of a hillbilly truck driver turned millionaire pop star. He was a caricature of irresponsible spending and gaudy taste. But you knew all this too, didn’t you?

Since his death, many have grown rich exploiting his legacy. He probably has more imitators than any performer in history. Elvis has become larger in death than he was in life, as so often is the case with those so easy to stereotype and so difficult to understand.

Perhaps those who laugh at the absurdity of Elvis are less tolerant, less accepting of differences, and less understanding of diversity in others. Yes, without a doubt, Elvis lived a strange life, trapped and strangled by the limelight of his own spectacular success.

Elvis is a legacy that we accept in Tennessee. He is a classic example of success and fame leading to downfall. He is a person that we admire and yet pity. His success was so noteworthy that people everywhere still speak of him in the same breath with Tennessee, especially Memphis.

We laugh at him even as we weep. Yet, his death is a reminder to us all, that we must strive to be more than great, we must also continue to be worthy of our greatness. But, you knew this too, didn’t you?

And, in my opinion, that is the true legacy that the king left for Tennessee and for all who seek fame or attempt to fill his blue suede shoes.

©Sheila Moss 1999
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I hate to complain, but…

Posted on July 26, 2016 by Sheila Moss

work

Have you been unsatisfied, done wrong, or felt cheated by a company and sworn you’ll never do business with them again?  Of course, you have.  We all have.  But did you do anything or just let it go?  If you’re like me, its hard to find an address, set down and write a letter, find a stamp, mail it, and wait forever for a reply. You’d rather just chalk ’em off your list and deal elsewhere.

I’ve been reading an article on corporate responses to customer’s email.  I must admit that I’ve found complaints to customer service via email to be pretty effective.  Nearly all the larger corporations have web sites nowadays and someplace on that site there is usually a button saying, “contact us” or  “customer service.”  I love it because I can sit down while I’m still gritting my teeth and write to the head honcho.  I have had some amazing results.

I once purchased a nice cheese box to be shipped to my sister. She received the gift in good condition and on time – but there was no card telling her whom it was from. Spend money on a gift and trust a company to send it, then the receiver does not know whom it’s from?  Thanks goodness I thought to ask her if she had received it.  (Hope she wasn’t too disappointed it was not a secret admirer.)

Anyhow, I did my thing, found the web site and sent an email to customer service. They later emailed me back, apologized for the error, sent an apology card to my sister, and sent me a coupon for $5.00 off on my next gift purchase. Instead of just being mad and never buying their dumb cheese again, (Actually, they do make pretty good cheese.) they were given a chance to make up to me for the mistake and won back my loyalty and business as a future customer. Once I received a full refund of $200 for a seminar that I went to and found totally stupid and useless — seems the company guaranteed satisfaction.

According to an article I recently read about a survey of companies and how they respond to email, Texaco was fastest in their replies; Hewlett-Packard took about 30 days (Not so hot), and MCI may never respond.

I can’t think of company that I’ve ever had to write that did not respond. A few times they even called me personally.  I give my name, address, and phone number so they will know I’m not kidding. I’m sure there are probably some companies out there that do not have a good record, though. These are the ones to put on your “never again” list.  If it’s really bad, you might write Better Business Bureau or the FTC and see how they like “them apples.”  Legitimate companies want you to be satisfied.

Remember: Without customers, they are out of business!

Now, I’ve written on this topic before, and other people tell me they have had good results from legitimate complaints by giving the details, and sending it right to the top.  Email makes your complaint a matter of written record and saves the time and trouble of a phone call, which may not even be recorded, or a confrontation with a sales clerk who may not have the authority to fix the problem.

Sure you’ve got better things to do than complain, but your complaint may bring financial compensation, and/or make things better the next time.  At the very least, you’ll have the satisfaction of giving ’em a piece of your mind — for free!

©1999 Sheila Moss
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The Grand Ole Opry

Posted on July 25, 2016 by Sheila Moss
Embed from Getty Images

Nothing is more associated with Tennessee than country music, and nothing is more associated with country music than the Grand Ole Opry.  Many southerners grew up on a steady diet of country music and love it.  Others have an attitude that seems to vary from being perplexed to indifference to hatred.

A joke about country music among newcomers to the Nashville area is, “If you live here long enough, you’ll get to where you can almost stand it!” This author was among those who thought it unsophisticated and hated it until, after suffering a personal loss, I had the radio on in the car and was shocked to hear the singer voicing my feelings exactly. That is the way it is with country music.  It speaks to the soul.

Whether you love it or hate it, no trip to Tennessee or Nashville would be complete without a visit to the Grand Ole Opry, rightly billed as the “shrine of country music.”  This is the long standing variety show where older country stars got their beginning. Even now, some of the biggest names in entertainment are associated with The Opry and perform there.  The show has become legendary and several shows are performed in the Opry House every weekend, unrehearsed.

A visit to the Grand Ole Opry will easily show why it has reached the level of legend that has come to be associated with it. With tickets as low as $35 per seat, it is without a doubt the biggest professional entertainment bargain you will every encounter.  The Opry House itself is plain, comfortable and functional. The atmosphere is casual, more like a ball game or movie than a live stage performance.

People munch on popcorn and watch the three-hour show, which is almost continuous with only brief pauses of a few minutes.  Fans leave their seats and walk forward to the stage to snap pictures of favorite stars. Yet, there is no chaos, but complete order and almost an awe of what is going on. The performers and audience alike seem to be caught up in the nostalgic aspects and enjoy being a part of history, something somehow greater than any one performance.

When attending it is necessary to “let go” and get into the spirit of the music to enjoy it. It is folk music — music of the common folk.  The songs are about loving, lying, cheating, drinking and common life.  It is interspersed with unsophisticated comedy acts, a bit of dancing for variety, and toe-tapping, fiddle and banjo playing.

When you make a reservation for the Opry, you never know who will be performing.  The lineup is announced Wednesday prior to the show.  Probably the most interesting aspect of the whole thing is that it is live on the radio, and live radio commercials can be heard by the audience and seem to tie the various parts of the show together. Part of the show is also carried live on cable television. The cameras are there filming and monitors show the audience what the television audience is seeing. It is truly amazing how everything continues to flow and the show goes on without interruption.

Why is it called the Grand Ole Opry?  It seems that way back in the 20’s when the show first began, it followed a radio show of classical music. The announcer made a crack about the Grand Opera being followed by the Grand Ole Opry and the name stuck.  It is, of course, about as far from opera as music can get.

Nashville is now a cosmopolitan southern city with live theater, an orchestra, and a ballet.  But the roots of southerners and of Tennessee and the heritage for which they will probably always most be known, is still the music of the common folk, country music.

©1999 Sheila Moss
Posted in Entertainment, Travel | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 17 Comments