Hi All: Well, the trip to the Grand Ole Opry is over. Must say that the show was not as good as the worst one in Branson. Our seats were not real good. 14 rows back, and off in left field. To far to get good photo's of the performers. Amy did get some good shots from the big TV in the back ground on the stage.

We found a Kroger's grocery store yesterday, then thought we'd look up where the Macaroni Grill was. Found it in the "Mills" area next to the river. Well all the stores and restaurants were fenced in and shut down from the flood last year. They said the water even got in to the Grand Ole Opry and covered the stage with 4 feet of water. They did a good job of getting the Opry up and going, but sure picked awful seats. They were just padded (A Little) Church Pews and you crammed everyone in them on each section. Very uncomfortable. And if you got a few of the extra weight folks we see around here they would take up two seats, so you would have no where to sit....May never go back there again. Will go to Branson.

We do have one more show to go to tonight. It's a dinner show that is next to the campground here. We have been there a few times, I think the first time was with Jay and Lou when we travelled together??? Always has been a good show, and the food is pretty good also. But, it is now raining at 1300 and we are to be there about 1500. So may have to drive the short distance so we will be in the rain less that way??? Guess the storm in the Gulf is finally getting some rain up here??? Started last night just after we got home from the Opry..

The photo's above are of Minnie Pearl of course. (Not the real one, She's gone), Then a bad shot of the "White's", who did a good job... Jeanne Seely in the black outfit, and Connie Smith in the white outfit. Jim Ed Brown in the red outfit, sang "Pop a Top Again" his big hit. Of course Little Jimmy Dickens" He was real good for a man of 90 years old... I backed him in Okinawa while I was a member of a band in 1964 on our way to Viet Nam. Then the last performer was Billy Dean. He sang his hit song "Billy the Kid", Then said he has a suprise.. Introduced his 16 year old daughter Hannah Dean to sing a song first time on the Opry. She was super. The best singer of the night. I bet we can expect to hear from her in the years to come. Very moving. She sang Hank Williams song "I'm so lonesome I could Cry". Billy Dean did the back up singing with her. Very good...

It was an OK showing of the Opry. Like I said though, it was not as good as the Worst show we saw in Branson. It was probably our last Opry show we will be spending big money to see. Another thing that botherd me was having to sit and listen to the commmercials during the show. Hate to pay good money to listen to that...????

Semper Fi

Don, Amy & Pharaoh..