One would have killed me instantly, if I had not heeded a strong ‘STOP’ inside of me as I entered an intersection on my GREEN light.  I immediately reacted with a strong push on my brakes.  Feeling foolish, I looked up at the light:  GREEN, then looked to my left and saw the fast approaching headlights and watched as the car flew past me where my car WOULD HAVE BEEN!  I was so shaken that I could barely function.  Thank you, Lord, for doing your part. 

This is not in the least George-related, I know, but I feel I need to discuss this.

WHY do people feel a sense of entitlement to “steal the light”?  I have seen them speed up on amber, as I STOP, they pass me and careen through the solid RED LIGHT!  WHY?  Do they feel a sense of accomplishment?  Do they feel they pulled-one-over on all the other driver-sloths?  Are they saving time?  Do they ever consider that they might KILL someone?

Yesterday, this happened at an intersection where a police person and I stopped side-by-side at a RED light, while another driver gunned-it and passed both of our stopped cars and sped through the RED LIGHT!   Since I was in the center lane (the officer was on the curb to my right), I saw the other vehicle coming FAST.  I knew he was going through.  I knew there would be cars from both sides entering the intersection.  I feared the worse.  I saw cars entering from my left as he flew by me.  As I turned my head to follow him, expecting to see a collision, I was amazed and thankful that no one from the right was there!  Did someone else hear and heed the voice of God within them? 

The police person?  Did NOTHING.  Was he/she distracted and not witness this dangerous maneuver by another self-serving thug on wheels?  Or…….see, but not interested in giving chase? 

I looked up and saw what might be a camera.  Benefit of the doubt for the officer’s inaction.  Perhaps the offender will receive a ticket in the mail.  I hope so.

There was a lot of resistance locally relative to intersection cameras to catch red-light-runners.  Privacy rights. 

What about Life and Liberty for all the other drivers?

I say:  Book ‘em……The SOONER, THE BETTER, and OFTEN.

Another woman, age 25, mother of 2 small children, ages 1 and 3, has died at the hands of her male companion.  The newspaper labeled him “boyfriend”. 

She was repeatedly stabbed with a hunting knife inside her apartment; her babies were nearby. 

This hurts me so much.  I have to say WHY.  The subject has been on my mind, searing my soul for a long time.  Whenever I hear George Strait’s song, “So Much Like My Dad”, my heart aches and I cry.  I can’t listen to it without making a personal connection.  Why?  Well….the lyric refers to ” what did he say that always made you stay?”

Well……how about:  “I’ll KILL you if you try to leave/divorce me.” ?

That is what happened to me.

Oh, yeah, my marriage was a long one: 31 years.  I still say, “I don’t accept any accolades or awards for the longevity of what really should never have been.”   That is difficult to admit, considering that I have two daughters who have given me 5 beautiful grandchildren.

But, consider this, too…..if I had tried to leave between the time of the brutal delivery of the death threat and when I finally escaped the marriage about 23 years later, would he have also murdered our daughters?  If he did not murder them, would I still be alive to enjoy my grandchildren?

I am glad everyday that I took so many risks in order to live my life outside of his control.  When I was in the process of deciding whether or not to leave, I thought of how Princess Diana lived for only one year after her divorce.  Of course, her husband did not cause her death.  But, that is who I thought about.  A beautiful, wealthy, prominent woman who got out safely.  So many have not. 

I thought:  if I am allowed to live only ONE DAY, it will be worth it to be free of his abuse. 

Sometimes I feel a sweeping depression come over me because I have survived for so long while so many other women (and sometimes their children and other loved ones) have perished.  And then, I grieve, in silence.  It is too late for them.  But maybe by sharing my story, other women and children might be saved.

How did this happen to me?

Before we married; he raped me.  Yes, it was rape.  I didn’t refer to it that way then, though.  I knew something was wrong; it was not over-zealous “passion” as he tried to convince me.  He harmed me and did NOT care, during or after the sex act.  It was not love-making.  I knew that.  I was frightened.  I was ashamed.

I spoke to a couple friends of my concern and fear, without telling them exactly what he did to me, and, not knowing all the details, they sided with HIM……..”Oh, to have someone LOVE you SSSSOOO much that he can’t control himself.!!!!”  It SOUNDS so romantic.

I was told that I was being too critical.  I should forgive and forget.  I should concentrate on how ‘lucky’ I was because “he’s so handsome”, and “he’s so funny”, and “he’s so charming”, and “he loves you SO MUCH.”

I was afraid to be married to what I suspected and feared.  I really did not believe that his actions and words were strong evidence of LOVE.  But…….he was so charming and apologetic; I was forgiving.  I was swayed.  I married.

How did he begin to control me?

First:  Assume a lot of debt using my established good credit.

Second:  Demean me in front of his friends and his parents.  Do and say things to me that began to erode my self-respect and to diminish my self-confidence and self-image.  I was so ashamed of myself.  I thought that if I tried hard enough I could correct things.  I began to disappear – but I didn’t know that, yet. 

Third:  Within a short time of marriage, without my knowledge and consent, he traded-in my free-and-clear car to purchase a car I was never allowed to drive.  I suddenly had to depend totally on him or public transportation to commute to work.  He began to control where I went, when I went, with whom I went.  There were times when he left me stranded somewhere, in all types of weather, different times of the day or night, pregnant, hungry, tired, sick, without money. 

Fourth:  Isolate me from my friends.  He had several tricks in how he did this.  He would confide in them.  Influence them against me. 

I became more and more ashamed of myself.  I withdrew into myself.  I did not want to confess to anyone that I made such a bad choice.  Oh, I tried in different ways over the years to say that I needed help, but somehow, it always turned against me and for him.  I wondered if anyone would ever believe me………

The young woman in Newport News?  The article in today’s paper quotes her mother’s saying that her daughter was frightened and wanted to get away from this (creep).  She wanted to go to school; she was enrolled.

She was stepping away.  He had already lost control of her and HE KNEW IT.  How many days did she get to live in freedom before he MURDERED her?

At this time, I say:  THANK YOU, God, for giving me YEARS.  Now help me to help others win LIFE, too.

George Strait’s announcement about the cancellation of two concerts for the weekend of January 29 and 30 included the explanation: “Due to our concern for the safety of our fans and crew….”.  Notice that “Fans’ safety” was FIRST. 

Oh, yeah, my safety was first in my mind, too, when I first heard that a huge (for our area) snow storm was coming Saturday morning.  I had planned on driving to Charlottesville from Williamsburg (120 miles) on Friday night. 

But, later, I did think of all those fully loaded coaches/buses and trucks hurrying on slick and icy roadways.  No…..I don’t want all of those people in danger.  And not George and Norma, Reba and her family, Lee Ann – NOPE.  Stay home, folks.  We’ll see ya later.

And you know, when I saw the snow blowing around Saturday and covering everything with what looks like clean linens right off the line….I was thinking, “I’m glad I’m home to see this rare event.”  I can listen, in safety, to my George music.  Not the same as seeing him enjoying himself on the stage, but, that will come on April 3.

Well, now.  Cook alittle.  Bake somethin’?????  NAH.  Watch a little TV.  OMG – all the same stuff.  Don’t like the series of anything.  Eat?  I JUST ate!  I’ll go upstairs and play on the computer for awhile.  I wonder what my password and such are for my blogs?  What blog site are they on?  Gees, I’ ve forgotten……and it’s been just a couple months!  I wonder where I put all my blog notes?  Go back downstairs.  Should I make some hot chocolate?  YEAH.  That sounds good and I need the milk, anyway.  OOOOOUUUU…….I hear the baby.  She must be up.  I’ll play with her a few minutes.

Now……What was I going to do?  Oh…..find my blog notebook and notes.  Oh, Dear Lord…..I hope I didn’t throw them away by accident when I needed a couple binders for my Census 2010 papers.  I wonder if they are in one of the drawers in the buffet.  NOPE.  Oh……damn…..I hate this getting older…..my brain must look like that brain on dope.  I should do some research on memory development for the elderly and have a post on my SeniorScenes blog.  I wonder if there’s any Constant Comment left.  Tiff likes it, too…….Dang……GONE!!  Oh, well……maybe my notes are loose in the little desk upstairs.

NOPE.  Oh……this is so frustrating.  What can I do to help me remember things?  Maybe I should just clean tomorrow.

NAH. 

I should have a cup of hot chocolate.  My Ghiradelli Double Chocolate with Lactaid Fat Free Milk.  YEAH.  That sounds like the ‘good fix’ for my various predicaments.  Now what will I do until I can drive over to Charlottesville to see George?

I’ll think about that tomorrow.  Good night, Scarlett.

Well…..I have a whoppin’ 5 grandchildren now!  The youngest, Kaiya, came along on October 6.  She lives with me, along with her Momma, Daddy, and big brother (14). 

It has been a long time since I had a baby around….but, I found that some of the ol’ tricks come back fairly easily.   Ah, but, this ol’ gal has a new trick since her babies were tiny and fussy!:  George Strait.

Yep.  That is correct!!!  A week ago, her frustrated Momma handed-off fussy Kaiya to ME!!!  ME, with the aching back and weakened arms, and short fuses……where did that patience go??  I thought, “Well…..listening to George always calms me down, gets me swaying to the easy rhythms, and fired-up with the quick steppin’ tunes.  Wonder what they’ll do for this young-un?”

Oh, my……I don’t know any Texas Two-Step, my feet forgot the Waltz and the Fox Trot – probably have bits and pieces of each all mixed together like a crazy quilt, but…….those steps and slides, frontwards and back, swayin’ here and over there…….got that baby’s eyes open wide and her mouth shut, she cooed and crooned along with George, moved her arms and hands expressively to the beat………and, …….. went soundly to sleep!  Let’s see:  about 5 songs did it. 

Her Momma couldn’t believe it!  Neither did her Auntie when she came a few days later for Thanksgiving……”NO WAY”, she said. 

Well……Kaiya and I did a couple demo’s for the non-believers……..even the Auntie took a try, same result……Calm, relaxed baby goes to sleep while dancin’ to George!!!

There, now, you can surprise someone in your family with the BEST solution for calming a fussy baby, a George Strait CD for Christmas…..or baby shower!

At one point I heard the instructor direct his students to enter a celebrity’s name in the Google search window.  They were all a-twitter on which name to use, so I offered my fav:  George Strait.  All three exclaimed, “WHO’s THAT?”  I laughed and said, “A treat fer sure and certain.”

Two of the smart and curious ladies entered George Strait’s name, the third entered Obama.

Almost immediately there was a mighty outburst:  “There is MORE information on George Strait than there is for Obama!,” all THREE internet-neophytes shouted in complete and innocent excitement.

The instructor looked over at me, shook his head and said, “YOU have created a sensation here.”  I responded with an innocent shrug, “It ain’t me; it’s George!”

A short time later, there was another vociferous reaction to their energetic search of everything GEORGE:  “Oh, my God…..look at all the pictures of him……..Wow……..HE’s handsome!…….Why are there SO MANY photos of him?……..Is he POPULAR or something?……What does he sing like?”

These gals had my head spinning as much as their minds and hearts were racing at this wonderful discovery.

Well……now all 3 Stellar Students were using ‘GEORGE STRAIT’ for their search lessons in using MapQuest and such.  They found George Strait Roads, Streets, Avenues and were SO EXCITED that they could barely contain themselves……and they hadn’t even heard him SING yet!!!  “People ALL OVER must really LIKE this man,” one of the astute students proclaimed, “in order to name STREETS after him!”

I was tempted to intercede and offer a lesson for using YouTube…..to further educate the ladies in the wonders of this talented man, but thought better of it……I thought that their ‘pumps’ were already pretty well primed!  If their curiosity captures them when they are searching at home, maybe they will wander and discover all the recorded material available on George’s long singing career.

Well……it was an interesting day at the Senior Center…….and some people probably think it’s always just the same-ol’……..WELL, I guess it is, till a Strait Crazy ol’ gal opens her mouth to help out some fellow oldsters to discover one of the finer things in life!!!

Oh, Lord of George Strait concerts, please forgive me!!!  I promise not to sin again………WELL…….maybe not till the next concert and I’m not in the front row!!!

Once I started listening to George’s music, I began to hear songs that I remembered hearing years ago and at different times through the years!  “My God”, I thought with amazement…….”HE sang ALL OF THOSE songs that captivated me?”  I never caught on that it was THE SAME singer!  Damn Strait……..he makes EVERY song independent of any other in vocal style, interpretation, the rhythm – everything.  No wonder he interested me.  And I hadn’t even seen him yet or knew his name!!  Uncanny.

While in Charlottesville (January 2007) to see George for the first time, I bought his boxed set.  Was listening to one CD while driving home in the snow.  Heard the beginning of “Lovesick Blues”………had an immediate profound flashback to when I heard it the first time, don’t even remember exactly how many years ago…….was cutting veggies for soup……stopped…..thought, “I LIKE that,” …… walked to the living room, stood in front of the radio, listening, with a knife in one hand and a carrot in the other!!!  “Oh, my God……I wish someone were singing songs like THAT today!” 

 WELL…..here I was……years later……OH, MY…….HE WAS THE ONE SINGING THAT SONG!!!…….I was so overcome with emotion that I was dangerously distracted from driving safely.  I had to pull off the road and listen to it a couple more times.  I wished so badly that I could tell him “THANK YOU, GEORGE.”

Months later, I also learned that in his early career, George sang some OLD, OLD favs of mine that I listened to with my young ears pressed to the Motorola when George, himself, was still a cooing infant!!:  “That’s What I Like About the South”, “Driving Nails in My Coffin”, and some others I’m forgetting at the moment.

I have wondered if George’s Mom sang or played these wonderful old classics to him, or his Dad had the radio goin’ at times when George was still cuttin’ his teeth, because they seem to be a part of the fabric of his life, as they are of mine…….and are probably of yours. 

Does George’s music affect you, your life?  Let me know your stories.  I love hearing them and so would others.

Have a wonderful and safe Thanksgiving everyone.

I just saw that Miley Cyrus’ tour experienced a fatal accident on a rain slick road in Virginia.  My heart goes out to ALL of you on her tour and especially to the yet unknown family of the crew member who died.

You all do something for fans that I cannot even imagine doing:  being away from your own beds, families, pets, familiar surroundings in order to bring your music to us.  THANK YOU to ALL troubadours……our prayers are with you, ALWAYS.

Cooler temperatures, no stifling humidity…..and……George’s tour sked comes out!!!  Of course that causes other temperatures to rise!

Hooray – 2010 brings George back to Ol’ Virginny!  Charlottesville, again.  Thank you, George.

It’s driving distance for me:  a mere 120 miles from Williamsburg of listening to pure country music by George. 

When I stay-over in Charlottesville, I like a lunch at Michie Tavern…..the hands down BEST fried chickie anywhere.

Charlottesville is the home of Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello and his University of Virginia.  Both sites are awe-inspiring to visit.  I have been fortunate to tour the rarely seen 2nd floor and Dome Room at Monticello.  Standing anywhere in this magnificient home is as exciting to me as being in the front row at George’s concert.  Gosh, two of my favorite men in the same town, in the same day!!!

I wonder if George and Norma take advantage of being so close to these two architectural and historic treasures to visit them?  I hope so.  It would warm my heart to know that they look in wonder and awe at what Jefferson created in his lifetime – without an adoring audience.  I am always amazed to think that Jefferson had to ride his horse those 120 miles to Williamsburg in order to conduct business of governance.  It took him about 4 days to travel to the Colonial Capital…….it was a 5 mile-an-hour world for him. 

When I visit the Rotunda on the campus, I love going to the windows that look out to the huge columns that overlook the Lawn.  I am reminded of the story of Jefferson’s being helped onto his horse so he could ride down to his University under construction and see the placing of the last capitol on the top of one of those columns!  He was within days of leaving us forever!  He was 83.

Jefferson did what he loved right up till he couldn’t do any more…..his body gave out on him; he never gave out on his body.  What an example to follow.

I feel such an excitement when I hear George say that he will continue to do what he loves……sing.

Awww – back to a visitor’s guide to the Charlottesville area.

The countryside around Charlottesville is so beautiful:  rolling, wooded hills, lots of trees, pastures….horses.  A jaunt over to Staunton (where Jefferson traveled by horse to practice law in their court house) is another delight.  Nowadays, there is a fascinating Shakespeare theatre that presents the Bard’s (another of my favorite men) plays year round on a stage designed to resemble an authentic period playhouse.  Go there, sometime, whether or not you love Shakespeare.  The theatre is unique:  you can sit on long, backless, wooden benches, or, for the brave and adventurous – on a small stool on the stage……WITH the actors!!!

Oh…..in Waynesboro (between Staunton and Charlottesville) there is a wonderful outdoor Frontier Museum not to be missed.  If you have the time, drive Rt 250 back to Charlottesville and stop in Crozet for a look-a-round.

When I was headed back home from seeing George in Charleston, West Virginia (2008), I pulled off the road near Crozet.  I noticed a highway patrol car go past me in the opposite direction followed by another patrol car.  The second car pulled off the other side, the young officer hollared to me, “You all right?”  “Yes, sir,” I hollared back with a smile, “I’m just changing my George Strait CD.”  The handsome uniformed gent smiled, laughed and responded, “OH……I LOVE George, too……..You have a grait day.” 

Yep….lookin forward to another Grait Strait Tour!!!  I love the people I meet along the way.

George Strait wears many different hats in his job, too.

Before I saw George in concert the first time in Charlottesville, Virginia on January 19, 2007, I figured he wore only black or white hats. 

Well…..my Daddy always wore a big, chocolately brown Stetson – and I wanted to see George with a brown hat.  I guess it was partly because I miss my Dad, who passed away May 17, 1981 (just as George was beginning his stellar singing career) and I felt that Daddy would like this man, who seemed to share so many of his good character traits and entertainment skills (Daddy sang in Seattle dance halls….he claimed he “couldn’t sing WELL”, but he “sure could sing LOUD”!  That was his “best asset”, which was of real value in the 1920′s – 1940′s).

Well, HOWDY……George DID wear a brown hat in Charlottesville (and other concerts that year).  I’ve wondered if perhaps George actually did read an email I sent to him through some fan-site in which I shared the story about my not-real-tall, gray-green-blue eyed Daddy and his big, brown hat.  You know, if he did, then in another way, this proves that George Strait really is something special!

George is busy.  George has family that is precious to him; he has hobbies that are also important to him.  George deserves his distance:  to be private, to be safe.  It seems he has few ways to connect with his fans in meaningful ways. 

Oh, yeah…..on stage he freely gives of his smile and his joy and delight in being there – it shows that he enjoys the audience as much as we enjoy him.  We all celebrate each other’s existence!

It is well known and accepted that George doesn’t “do” interviews as prominently and frequently as other entertainers, but it seems that recently he has been doing more.  He doesn’t walk Red Carpets.  George has his own way of living his success and we accommodate him.  We wait.  And…..we are not disappointed.

With George there is consistency in all the right things, in others, he is always never the same – like when he wears the brown hat, or signs a piece of artwork you didn’t expect him to sign, or stops to give you a focused glance, a point, and a sparkling smile when you least expect it!!!

Thanks, George.

Her voice doesn’t seem to be polished yet, but she has style and personality (presence and charisma) that will take her to the top if she does all the right promotions and such.  During her part as the first opening act for Country Legend, George Strait, Taylor invited all and any people who wanted to meet her to wait in a long line, where she would stay until EVERYONE got to meet her!

The  GOODWILL from that gesture would go a long way in building a loyal fan base, I thought.   

I wondered if someone gave her some excellent advice on networking…..at 16, she just didn’t seem to be mature enough to have that ‘savvy’ yet. 

I noted, too, that she was dressed beautifully and simply in an age-relevant, filmy dress and gorgeous cowboy boots!   And since then I’ve seen that she always dresses well and appropriately.  In fact, I would venture to say that she has contributed to the change in dress code for many of the country music ladies!!  And perhaps, for some of the men – though many of them still look like they just got back from the barn, haven’t showered yet, but plan on either some lovin’ or chowin’ before they clean up.

That last mention of the men in country music brings me around to George Strait:  he is ALWAYS impeccable and appropriate in every way.  Pure Class; Pure Country. 

I wonder how proud George is of Taylor’s Superstar-success so rapidly.  I wonder if in his uncannily accurate sense of what is on the leading edge of interest to the country music fan, he decided in late 2006 to ask the newly minted Taylor Swift to join him on his 2007 Winter Tour?  I happen to believe that George DID see something special in this young entertainer and gave her a chance to shine in her 20-minute set before the GREAT Ronnie Milsap. 

So, here I am looking forward to what else Taylor Swift will bring to the Country Music buffet with her songwriting, interesting and energetic stage performances that approach pop antics, but retain a youthful, clean, freshness that is attractive to all ages, and her open, honest, and humble personality. 

I hope that Taylor follows a lead that George Strait has set:  entertain, but retain your own identity.

Congratulations, Taylor.  Thanks, George.