A Wendy V Trip Report: 

NASHVILLE, TN

September 8-11, 2005

What better way to celebrate a 50^th birthday than to fly to Nashville and spend a weekend. And, how nice of Michael McDonald to plan a concert there on my birthday! This was to be a “self-indulgent” weekend for me. I’d be on my own schedule. A couple of people I usually run into were out of town and were missed (you know who you are). Others I contacted were unavailable or maybe didn’t care that I was in town. So, this was all about ME.

It’s routine by now. I get ready to travel, severe weather is predicted. Despite the always ever-present threat of dire weather, we got out before the thunderstorms. Both ATA and Southwest did a good job of getting me and my luggage to Nashville and back home on time. I seemed to be on the road for hours, having decided to go the “back way” (that is, not through downtown) to my hotel but it worked. There is a LOT of traffic in Nashville no matter when and where you go.

It was so good to have a laptop out there to log on and check e-mail and surf. It also made it easy to journal events shortly after they happened.

Day 1:

It was hot and sunny, as it would be all week. As soon as I got checked into my room, I took a quick dip in the outdoor pool. I thought about going to an outdoor concert, but why go through the hassle of driving when a legend was making an appearance just down the street from the hotel? Judy Collins, with a new book and CD, made an appearance at Borders Books, which was walking distance from my hotel. She looked great, her voice is amazing as ever, and she was very charming. She talked about how many of her songs she became famous for came to her, her own background in music, growing up being encouraged to be a pianist until she discovered folk music, and her own journey as a songwriter. And don’t you know that I had a few seconds of fame during her talk. When talking about recording “Both Sides Now” (which she began the evening by singing), she mentioned that Al Kooper, one of my music idols, was a friend of hers and he'd been the one to introduce her to Joni Mitchell.  She said Al was in a group at that time, but she couldn’t remember the group. Well, I did, and blurted out the “answer”: the Blues Project. She thanked me and noted she had a couple of shills in the audience to help her remember things. My pleasure, Judy!

I skipped the book signing as I needed to head back to the hotel and get ready to watch the TV premiere of Mark Lowry’s Hollywood video. I was at that taping, and it was fun to watch and relive being there again.

 Day 2:

Just as I said I would, I walked around Broadway in my red hat and purple attire. I sat out at Riverfront Park for a bit and then had lunch at the Hard Rock Café in Nashville. In order to avoid the usual “just ONE??” response I normally get when I walk into restaurants on my own, I walked in and promptly announced to the staff that it was my 50^th birthday and I was celebrating MYSELF. That got me a terrific waiter  who was a sweetheart and surprised me with an ice cream sundae dessert for my birthday. If you ever go there, try the haystack chicken salad...it’s awesome. Same thing happened at the Longhorn Steakhouse near my hotel. I said it was my 50^th birthday and a very sweet wait person told me I looked great and set me up with a cheesecake dessert.  Like many who work service jobs in Nashville, both of these folks are singers or songwriters. A major artist has taken notice of one person's songs, the other is a demo singer who's started playing around town. I will keep my fingers crossed for these two. So keep your ears open when dining out in Nashville and encourage your wait person hoping for that big break.

In the evening, the main event: the Michael McDonald concert with the Nashville Symphony orchestra. The orchestra was the “opening act” and had the first half of the evening. I’m not a big classical music fan…I use classical music for sleeping or soothing. But the conductor, Albert -George Schram, made it easy...he was charming, funny and had an engaging personality. The orchestra was very good and I actually recognized a couple of pieces. They also varied the program well, with a good mix of lively and subdued selections. Michael Mc Donald and the band had the second half, backed by the orchestra. What can I say…McD is still “the man.”  He wowed us all with the Motown, Doobies and solo hits, the band was amazing, his voice is still awesome.   I probably should have tried to hang out later to meet him (again—met him years ago in Minneapolis), but I never parked in the parking garage near the theater before and I was nervous about getting out (it gives you 10 minutes after paying your ticket—what if there was a backup?). I didn’t have my camera anyway.  Plus there’s that downtown Nashville traffic, you know. End of excuses. (Hey, I always admired him from afar. Might as well stick with it.)

Day 3:

It was back to Broadway to wander around and stick my head in the doors of the bars to hear the bands. I went to one of my favorite lunch places, Rippy’s, to have their great pulled pork house salad. Then off to the Country Music Hall of Fame Museum to catch a noontime showcase by three famed songwriters, who wrote some of the biggest hits in country and pop: Jimmy Payne (“Woman Woman”), Don Wayne (“Country Bumpkin”) and 81 years young Danny Dill (“Detroit City”).

There was also a kickoff event for the hockey team the Nashville Predators outside of Gaylord Entertainment Center. I made the rounds of the radio station displays, told the folks I was from the Twin Cities and celebrating my 50^th and was showered with all kinds of items—t shirts, CDs, key chains, etc. Gotta love this Southern hospitality.

 The big event of this day was touring the Ryman Auditorium. I toured the backstage area and saw the dressing rooms used by performers today. I also made it to the stage of the Opry (see above). Didn’t know I had it in me, did ya? 

All the walking around town to remain faithful to my fitness regime while away wore me out. I decided to stay cool Saturday night and stay in. I watched the latest hurricane relief effort concert and saw a few of my favorite performers before I wiped out from the long day and fell asleep.

 Day 4:

On Sunday I made my annual visit to GracePointe Church in Brentwood . I attended Pastor Stan Mitchell’s Sunday school. They are reading the book “The Jesus I Never Knew” by Philip Yancey. In his sermon series focusing on forgiveness, Pastor Stan really brought alive the Genesis story of Joseph and his brothers. Pastor Stan has a superb preaching gift and extensive Biblical knowledge.

I hung out at the West End for a little while afterward and later that day headed out for my other favorite regular stop, the Bluebird Café. It got very crowded very fast (which is why you show up a half hour early and stand outside in line if you want to get a seat…even though you bake in the hot sun). A singer/songwriter named Sonny Steiner and his band did an opening set, followed by the writer’s night. I heard several very good songwriters before I had to head back to the hotel and start packing.

 I had a great visit here on my “self-indulgent” weekend and was sad to leave. I know a few people who are afraid to do these kinds of things alone. I’m glad I am a “brave” person. I wouldn’t have missed out on the experiences I had in my travels. Most of the time, if I wait for someone else to do something with me, it won't happen.

Hey, maybe I’ll retire in Nashville and learn to write song lyrics…but until then, I’ll just have to wait until next year.

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