Okay, we are off in our count of the 12 Dates of Christmas. And, we don't necessarily agree on what to count. However, this is not an issue. We love the dates and will keep on keeping on.
Saturday, December 9th, was to be a rainy, yucky kind of day. It turned out to be spotty during the day. My concern was the evening. Our next date was to drive south on I-75 to Renfro Valley. Driving I-75 South is hazardous at best. Driving it in rain storms does not add to the joy of the drive.
We filled our day with doing things in our home. Then we left at 4:30pm for the drive to Renfro Valley. That is a 66 mile drive. We would first go to Lexington and enjoy dinner at Chipotle. This is always amusing as I only get the burrito bowl with only white rice and pinto beans. They are always sure I need some kind of topping. Alas, my love of pinto beans and rice is a childhood comfort food. They flavor their pinto beans just right. Yum.
Also amusing was the parents trying to leave as we found the booth we would sit in. Their had a little girl about 3 years old, maybe 2. They were trying with very kind words to get her to come with them. She was so happy with all those tables and chairs to play around in. She finally hid herself under a table in the corner. When they came to get her, she let out a screech that would break your ear drums. Made me thing of Raelyn as a baby. She could screech at a very high pitch that was just before humans couldn't hear it and only dogs could. Had forgotten about that until this little kept letting out her screech. Cute moment.
As we headed back to I-75 South, the rain started to pour. It was nasty. Fortunately there was not as much traffic as usual. Claude made it to our exit and we found a parking spot. The rain was less as we left the Jeep and headed to the Barn.
We had great seats to see the Gatlin Brothers, Row D with seats by the aisle. They would sing their music, all written by Larry Gatlin, the oldest of the brothers, in the first half of the program. These are songs we dearly love. I reflect back to our early years with three little kids and trying to take a road trip. We had an 8-track player in our car and the Gatlin Brothers was one of our favorite groups to sing along with. The kids sang with us. We also really enjoy John Denver and Ferrante & Teicher (the kids called them Faranet and Ticher). The second half of the program would be Christmas music. We were always encouraged to sing along with them.
They always stood in the same order. Steve on the left, Larry in the middle, Rudy on the right. Behind them was Steve Smith, their brother from another mother.
The brothers were in good voice. During the intermission Claude shared how impressed he was that Larry could get those high notes. The strangest things happened that I have never seen happen at a concert. There was a man and wife sitting on the front row. During one of the songs, Larry stopped and walked to the edge of the stage. He pointed at the couple and said something about them being better behaved or he would call security. I did him in ask the man if he was the ladies husband. The man said he was. Then Larry told him to control his wife or he would ask them to leave. At first, I was sure it was part of a bit they were doing. One of the brothers started to sing a solo and Larry and the other brother left the stage. In a few minutes, a man with a shirt on with SECURITY in bold letters over the back came to the front of the auditorium right by the stage and looked at the couple. He watched them for a while. Then he walked across the front of the auditorium along the edge of the stage to the exit door on the other side. He stood there for a while and watched. Then he left and walked to the back of the auditorium. Larry and his brother came back to the stage and they continued to sing. During the second half of the performance, Larry again went to the front of the stage and asked this couple to leave. He again called for security. The security man came and escorted the couple out. Larry went back to his bar stool and explained that we all paid good money we worked hard for to hear the performance. He would not let anyone ruin that for others. Evidently this couple were talking all through the performance and disturbing those sitting around them. They talked during the sacred Christmas carol and that was it. Larry had them removed. We were at an Eagles Concert once and we purchased floor tickets. These were very pricey but we wanted to try sitting closer to the Eagle. Two rows in front of us was a couple clearly on a date. They were talking all through the performance. Not singing along but trying to have a conversation. The Eagles are loud. This meant the couple was yelling their conversation and it was very distracting. Singing along would not have bothered me. I was ready to touch them on the shoulder and ask them to take their conversation to one of the bar areas in the hallway. Goodness. I would have been happy to have Larry Gatlin send them out!
We headed home to another downpour. Fortunately, there was less traffic than driving down and we made it home safely. It was a really good concert. Everyone sang along and enjoyed the humor of these brothers. Great Date!!
Sunday, December 10th, we filled the day nicely. We had church in the morning. Then the Relief Society presidency came to our home for a presidency meeting. We are responsible for the Ward Christmas Party Friday and this was an important meeting. Claude naps through these meetings. We attended choir practice to get ready for the Christmas program on December 24th. Then we went to McAlister's for dinner. It was time then to head to Alltech Arena for our next date.
We attended this event last year. We loved it so much, we made it a point to find out about it again this year. This is the Alltech Celebration of Song featuring the University of Kentucky Opera Theatre and Friends. It would prove to be just as delightful as last year. The thing is, it is free. No charge to enter or to park. The cordon off part of the arena seating, set up a big stage with lighting and put on a grand production of Christmas music. Guest artists also perform. Really good event.
Singing "Hallelujah". Love this piece of music.
One of the guests performers, Cynthia Lawrence, singing "The Christmas Song". This lady has sung with Pavarotti many times.
Professor Christopher Burchett came out in red shoes and sang "You're a Mean One, Mr. Grinch". His booming voice was perfect. I am not sure what it is with red shoes this year. The first pair I noted was at Bailey's LYO concert. Larry Gatlin wore red boots for the first half of their show. Then this gentleman came out is bright red shoes. Not sure what it is but I do like the red shoes.
It was great music. They only had one real glitch. They set up the microphones but did not have one in the center above the stairs to go to the lower level. If someone was singing in the area, you really couldn't hear them. That was a staging error but did not diminish our enjoyment of the show. We felt bad for the one performer who sang her part so well but we couldn't hear her at all.
Monday, December 11th, is a stay at home day. The laundry is almost done. And my computer has had a workout trying to get things done for Relief Society and update this Blog. Good day.
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