Movin' On

Country music said goodbye to a legend today. Merle Haggard died on his 79th birthday.

Hubby and I are glad we got to see him in concert this past fall. It seemed like after that, there were a lot of cancellations and Willie Nelson was doing the show himself. I just said to Jim last week that we were lucky because it didn't look like Merle would get well enough to go back on tour.

Sadly, that was correct.

It wasn't surprising. But still a bummer.

What was your favorite Merle song? Jim often has the latest Greatest Hits CD playing in his vehicle. Gotta love Silver Wings, Mama Tried and Okie from Muskogee. But my favorite? Movin' On.

Call me a gearhead, but I love that truckin' song! In addition to serving as the main theme song to the Movin' On TV show, the song was among many in country music to pay homage to the American over-the-road truck driver – which my dad was at the time of this mid-1970s release.

It was among the many trucker songs my twin sister and I liked. We may have worn out that K-tel trucking album, but we did not forget the movin' songs of that era.

Naturally, this made me think of Dad today. Ironically, it was exactly 3 years ago today that I gave Dad his dying wish and became a Packer fan. JUST FOR THE DAY, mind you!

Although he lived another 7 weeks after that, that day I said "goodbye" for the first of many times. I thought that day was going to be it. Like with Merle, we knew we should expect it to happen soon. But that doesn't make it any easier, as anyone who lost a loved one that way will tell you.

I remember telling him, "I'm sad, Dad." He said he couldn't blame me, and added, "But I'm on my last legs and my legs aren't doing anything any more."

All I can do is fondly remember when he could use his legs, and we enjoyed many a waltz and polka to country outlaws like Merle.

Say hello to my dad up there, Hag. And play something he can dance to!

10-4? Over and out.

Country Legends

Our fall geriatric tour was supposed to include The Who on Oct. 10 and Merle & Willie on Oct. 25, but we only got to enjoy half of it since the rock 'n' roll old guys had to postpone and only the elderly country legends had staying power.

A few months back I heard about the concert and knew hubby – a huge Merle Haggard fan – would want to go. I got a super secret code that let us buy tickets the day before the public and scored us some seats in the 6th row! I knew it would be a bit of a time crunch rushing back from sister weekend. But I made it back with a half hour to spare to unpack and country up.

None of the pictures are crystal clear -- and it's not because of a Willie weed haze, just a camera phone that can only zoom so far.

Waiting for the start! Not too far from stage, which was good because these simple country guys. No megatron for the audience of 18,000 to see them on a screen. We could see their whitish-gray hair and wrinkles. A whole lotta people probably just say some guys in cowboys hats!

The show actually opened with 3 songs by Merle's oldest from his "first litter" and his youngest (on guitar) from his "last litter." Yes, the 78-year-old is on his 5th marriage. And Willie, 82, has been married 4 or 5 times. Good thing music lasts longer than marriage!

Merle takes the stage!

Sounded and looked as cool as ever.

I can't remember what he all sang, but I do know he did "Mama Tried," "Sing Me Back Home," "Workin' Man's Blues" and "Okie from Muskogee" of course!

Willie came on stage they sang a few tunes together, including "Pancho and Lefty." Their latest duets album, “Django and Jimmie,” came out in June so they sang their entertaining “It’s All Going to Pot” song.

With a Texas flag backdrop, Willie Nelson opened with "Whiskey River." Also sang "Crazy," "Angel Flying Too Close to the Ground," "To All the Girls I've Loved Before" and "Mamas, Don't Let Your Babies Grow Up to Be Cowboys."

We just call him "the red-headed stranger" in our house. But not many red hairs anymore.

He must have thrown 3 bandannas out to the crowd. Apparently we didn't have enough screaming women by us to garner attention.

They closed performing a few songs together, with Merle mainly playing guitar.

After that, we were "On the Road Again." We got home after midnight and I was so tired on Monday, but it was worth it. A legendary date night!