Grand Ole Opry
Nashville, TN
October 14, 2006
Review By: Paige (as told to Aunt Nicole)
My name is Paige and I'm eight years old. My Aunt Nicole has had me listening to Patty since I was a baby. When I was learning my ABC's, my aunt was teaching me Patty's band members. I was the only kid in kindergarten who knew who Deanie Richardson was and that she played the fiddle! I met Patty when I was only 18 months old, but I don't remember it very well. She held me and I got my picture taken with her, and I gave her Tweety bird balloon, and everyone said she just loved me!
After that, when I was four, my mom let me go on a trip to Ashland, KY with Aunt Nicole because Patty was going to be there. It was a really long trip up there, but we listened to a lot of music and I got Patty's present ready. I had a bracelet and a stuffed dog for her, and I bought it all with my own money. We stayed at a hotel and the next morning when we woke up, Patty's big blue bus was outside the window! I was really excited, and carried her stuff with me all day because I thought I might see her. And I was right! When Aunt Nicole was talking to her friends, I saw Patty get off the elevator and she came right to us, even though she told her manager she was running late. I gave her all her stuff and she gave me two hugs. That night, we saw her in concert from the second row, and I sang along to "Pretty Little Miss" and "The Boys are Back in Town", because those are my favorites. I even got to give Patty flowers when she was on the stage! During one slow song, "Nothin' But the Wheel", I wanted to how Patty my ladybug earrings I had in my ear just for her, but Aunt Nicole said I couldn't and I HAD to be quiet! I had a lot of fun, and Patty was so nice to me!
For the past few years, my half sisters have been coming on both weekends, and it's been very hard for Aunt Nicole to try to take me to see Patty. I got to go to a tv taping after my baby brother was born so we could let Patty meet him, and we got to see her sing a few songs and we were on tv! Anyway, this year things changed with my sisters and now I can see Patty every other weekend if I want! So when Aunt Nicole and Anita had an extra ticket to this Opry show, they told my mom they wanted to bring me! Aunt Nicole called me after I did my homework and asked me if I wanted to go see Patty Loveless with her and Anita on Saturday and I shouted YES into the phone-- really loud!
I spent Friday night at Aunt Nicole's, and then Saturday morning she and I went to hang out with Anita and her friends that she brought with her! We wanted to show them some of Nashville, so we went to the Opryland Hotel. I really liked it because there is a BOAT RIDE in the hotel, and they have fish in the water! I love fish! Me, Aunt Nicole and Anita rode the boat so I could spot all the really cool catfish they had- even two white ones. After that, we went to the mall next door- it's called Opry Mills to look around. I go there a lot because I like to shop!
After a little while, it was time to get ready to see Patty. Anita curled my hair and we took lots of pictures of the three of us together. Aunt Nicole and I even wore Patty shirts! When we got the Opry, I was really excited. I was going to sit with Anita and her friends for a little while, in the extra seat with them. That was okay with me because Anita is Aunt Nicole's best friend and I love when she comes to see us! She lives in another state, but she comes to see us a lot. When the Patty portion came on, Anita took me down to Aunt Nicole and I sat in her lap. We had second row, so I could see her REALLY good. And when that show started and Vince Gill came out, I saw Deanie playing fiddle! I got really excited and she smiled and waved at me. I haven't seen Deanie in four years, but she remembered me! The people next to us asked Aunt Nicole who I was excited about and she told them we wanted to see Patty, and that was Patty's fiddle player. The thought that was really neat, so I showed them that my shirt said Patty Loveless on it.
When Patty came out, I screamed and clapped really loud! She was so pretty, and when she walked out she smiled right at me and Aunt Nicole!! She only sang one song with Vince Gill, but we got to take some pictures of her and she sounded so good! I told my Aunt I saw her smile at me twice during her song. They sang a song called "Out Of My Mind", and it was new, I never heard it before, but I pretended I did and tried to sing some of the words. Before we knew it, she was over and she waved to everyone as she walked off the stage, so I waved back.
We went to the Opry Shop after that to buy some stuff. I bought a new cowboy hat that said "Grand Ole Opry" on it, and I even saw a play fiddle in there! I knew it was what Deanie played, so I almost bought it. Then we bought a coke and junior mints, and I wanted to go back out and see some more of the show, plus Aunt Nicole had to go out and call my mom so she could find me after the show, so we went back inside and I sat with Anita. We watched some of the other people, and I shared my Junior Mints with Anita and my new friend JB, and then one guy onstage I didn't know started talking about Patty again! I was so excited, and then he said she was going to come back out! I jumped up and started trying to get out, shouting that I had to go get my Aunt Nicole! I knew she would be upset if she missed her, so I was trying to push people out of my way. Lucky for me, Aunt Nicole came running in! I kept telling her that Patty was coming back out and she was going to sing again, so she went down front to take pictures. I was so excited that Patty came back out, I just sat there with Anita and I screamed and cheered and sang along- we were both so happy! Patty sang two songs, "If My Heart Had Windows" and "Blame It On Your Heart", and she sounded so good!! I kept telling Anita and Aunt Nicole that I was just so happy she came back out!
Soon after, the show was over. Anita and I went outside to look for my mom and Aunt, because Mom was going to take me home and Anita and Aunt Nicole were going to see Patty again. I was so excited to tell my mom about my day- I had so much fun with everyone, and had even more fun getting to see Patty again. I definitely am going to see her again next year. I want to meet her again too, because I haven't gotten to give her a hug in a long time. I draw her a lot of pictures though, so I know she wont ever forget me!
