Of Music and Mullets

Gapetto (The Keeper) and I had our 10th 

wedding anniversary on the 18th. I don’t 

know about you but I haven’t done anything
(or anyone!) consistently for 10 years until 

now. We decided to go for a long weekend 

to Nashville. That’s right, Nashville. 

If anyone has looked at my bio or met me 

they know I love twangy women: Allison Krauss, 

Shawn Colvin, Nancy Griffith, Beth Orton, etc.

Now I don’t think I mentioned this before 

but my husband is a saint (occasionally). 

He’s never much cared for my music
but he knew I have been wanting to go 

up there. Generally I go see my girls with 

our good friend who I’ll call The Husband
Understudy. He says and I quote,

“It’s all the work, none of the perks.”

I’d say bless his heart but he loves 

the music as much as I do. And he knows

he’s always got someone to go with him.

But getting back to Gapetto and me. 

We did all the touristy stuff - which there 

is ALOT of. We went to the Country Music
Hall of Fame, Studio B (where we sat at 

the very piano that Elvis warmed up on), 

we tried on cowboy boots and hats, even 

a mullet cap (did NOT purchase that).

(He's all mine Ladies!)

We went to Cooter’s and had my picture 

taken next to General Lee. It’s amazing how 

I have made it nearly 49 years in this life without
knowing who the heck The Dukes of Hazzard 

were. I am sorry that I couldn’t keep that 

streak going, frankly.

As I once asked Gapetto when we were dating

“Didn’t your mother ever make you play outside?!?”

The man knows his television.

And we listened to music. 

Sweet, Sweet Music. We heard a guy
named Mike Farris who sings the most 

raucous, New Orleans style gospel 

I’ve ever heard and he ain’t bad for 

a white boy, in fact he is amazing. 

It was like being at a rock concert - loud!
Good and Loud! Love him! They were 

recording live that night for his upcoming 

album so the place was going wild and 

me and Gapetto were too. 

He liked him, he really liked him.

And of course, everywhere we turned we saw Elvis.

If I had a nickel for every picture, full 

size mannequin and cut-out we saw 

of Elvis I might have been able to 

pay for a tank of gas. Maybe.

And we slept! We slept in till 8:30 or 

9:00 everyday and that was on Central time. 

Ah, sweet sleep. Without the Dolly Llama 

and the Bunny Rabbit the only reason to 

get out of bed was because Gapetto 

can't sit still. He has got to get up and go. 

And go we did.

Happy Anniversary to us.