I DIDN'T MEAN TO MAKE YOU CRY!

Rain, once again, stopped play.  Most people are enjoying the cooler temperatures and the rain has certainly brought the humidity down, but for those of us who were brought up in less heated climes, and a back garden with perhaps a sprinkler attached to a hosepipe, that was run through the kitchen window, attached to the kitchen sink tap, (faucet,) or a plastic paddling pool, but no immediate access to a swimming pool, or lake, or area of water to swim, or beside which to relax, sitting by a pool, and being able to swim at will, is more of a blessing than I could ever have imagined.

The mornings felt much cooler, despite the temperature being higher, the humidity made it feel almost autumnal, or at least Texas autumnal, and more like the summer mornings I remember in Blighty!  The rain held off for most of the week, threatening to return at the weekend, again, but as our lakes and rivers are fuller than they have been for probably a decade or more, once again, no one was complaining!

I almost missed the entry for the contest to see Bri Bagwell, a country singer, who hailed from New Mexico, but now considers herself a Texan.  The browser I use for one particular radio station did not show any contests.  I thought it a little odd, and opened another browser the Friday before last, and saw that there were, indeed, several contests for each of that particular group of stations.  I entered us all for the contest, and waited.

On Tuesday afternoon, the emails arrived to say we had been 'selected'.  I knew my daughter was going to be 'out of town' on a day trip, to meet up with a friend who had moved away, so I asked if the 'new guy' in our office would like to join us.  He seemed a bit perplexed.  "What do you mean?  Did you win a contest?  How?"  To go into details, would just take too long.  He seemed eager to join Grant and me on the trip, and asked what we had to do.  "Show up!" I said.

Leaving the office at eleven, leaving my husband to take care of everything, including all the spam phone calls, which seemed to be at a premium this week, we travelled the spoiled highway, where they are putting a 'surplus to requirements' (in my opinion, and the opinion of all whom I have asked) toll road.  The lovely, country highway has been ruined, having had all the 'Christmas' trees removed, and replaced with solid wall.  No doubt they will replace them, as they have with the fauna and flora along my perfect highway, which was ruined a few years ago!  I know it may seem like I am standing in the way of progress, but the same is felt by most of the people who live here.  Why?  However, I digress.  We arrived at the radio station to a stupendous welcome from our hostess, and hugs all round!  Our new guy was slightly overwhelmed.  Although not hugged, he found it quite unnerving to be part of a group (albeit very small) who were welcomed with such enthusiasm, by a DJ!  "Do you know her, well?" he asked, after she looked at pictures of my youngest grandson, and almost melted (genuine or not, the sentiment conveyed the former) when he saw the snap.  "We do now", I said, and told him of our experience at the previous radio station, and how we were treated like VIP's.  

Lunch was amazing.  Shoeff's BBQ catered, and the food was definitely superior.  We were invited into the 'lounge' and as I was at the front of the queue, procured the front row seats.  Bri Bagwell was very gracious.  She writes her own songs, and has a very humble quality about her.  Never feeling quite good enough, she said she is always encouraged by the interviewer, who always gives her praise, and the additional boost she needs to continue.  It was not false modesty.  However, she did say that some younger female artistes have made comments on various social media pages, to say that she has encouraged them.  Her voice was pure, and her songs heartfelt.  Like a lot of country artists, she draws from experience.  She sang about her 'rescue' dog, a song about 'whom rescued who'.  Several charities have benefitted from money raised from the singer, and her dog!

The 'any questions' part of the performance came around, and no one put up their hand.  Having made a complete fool of myself, several performances ago, and having redeemed myself since then, and not drinking the 'ranch water' which contains more alcohol than is safe for my tongue, I put up my hand.  Mine was no so much a question, but more of a statement.  I told her that she was amazing, which in my opinion, since she had overcome so many pitfalls, and having been told at the tender age of 26 (over a decade ago) that she was too old for the industry, and that she was inspiring. Not only was she inspiring to those younger, but to those older, and I was a good deal older than her.  I said that I had been inspired.  I felt as if I could climb any mountain, and forge every stream, (not in those words, but Julie Andrews has to come out somewhere when I am being inspired,) in that if I put my mind to it, I could succeed.  The whole room was silent.  I thought I had said something wrong.  I almost panicked as the interviewer left the stage and walked across the room to a child, who had come with her father (a sponser of the event) and asked if she had a question. The young girl said that she loved dogs too!  Ms Bagwell replied accordingly, and then got up from her chair, and looked at me.  She said she hoped my comments had been recorded, and that it was the best interview she had ever had.  She proceeded to give me an enormous bear hug, and said I had made her cry.  Was that a good thing?  Apparently so! I told her that we were both immigrants to Austin, me having travelled just that bit further, and one year before, but both none the less, immigrants!  

The photo session took place, and I was happy wearing my giant Stetson to match that of my new friend.  She hugged me again.   Our 'contact' was standing at the side.  I thanked her, as usual, with profusion, and she told me that we were her 'people' and she always looks for our entry!  (That's cheating, said my son, and Grant's mum, but if you are a VIP, then you get the invite!)  

We left and Grant told me that he had watched Bri's face as I made the comment.  He said her lip quivered and then her chin, and he thought she was going to 'lose it'.  "Did I redeem myself?"  I asked.  He said that I really did!  Dana enjoyed his barbecue sandwich so much that he said he had to stop himself from driving down to Belton (about an hour away) for dinner!

What could compete with that day!  The week progressed, and the promise of our condo having a new roof became a reality, with the roofers measuring up for a start the following week.  I was going to have to be judicious with my time, as I figures the way to a man's heart is through his stomach, and whilst not wishing to entice on a romantic level, my theory was that it would work the same on a 'corporate' stage!  Keep them fed with tasty morsels and they will do a good job!  Bribery is such an ugly word!  

The weekend was quite uneventful.  I had started a new book, again, and it was going to take some time to finish.  Small writing, very detailed, and very, very English.  Showers, despite being fierce, only lasted for a short time and just kept the temperatures down slightly.  However, it has, so far, been quite  a mild summer.

With the prospect of a lot of mess, and a lot of cooking, next week seems to have taken on its own burdens, and although I doubt I will make anyone cry (at least I hope I do not make anyone cry) and there are no 'meet and greet' on the horizon, I am sure it will be eventful!  All to be revealed in .... another story!