I really am having a good time, despite computer and memory card issues, expensive repairs to my car thanks to damage from bad roads in Ohio and a wicked head & chest cold exacerbated or possibly brought on by all the *?!@$# cigarette smoke that is everywhere I go! I might as well start smoking again myself.
Oh yeah - almost forgot - the storm of the century brewing directly in the path I was going to take into Texas. They're calling for a half-inch of freezing rain in Oklahoma, so I guess I'll go south to Louisiana after all.
However...
What I am seeing so clearly is that by going with the flow, I find myself where I'm supposed to be.
For example - I got to meet BB King yesterday and more than a dozen other rhythm & blues greats, promoters and agents at the Bobby Blue Bland 80th birthday bash at Sam's Town Casino in Robinsonville, MS.
If I hadn't been delayed in Memphis, I would have skipped that event and just gone on.
After I picked up my car on Tuesday afternoon, I decided to drive to Sam's Town. As it's a casino, it was only $40US a night for a deluxe King room.
Wednesday morning I ran into Miss Angel, Lisa and Tim in the buffet. I knew they were coming down for the show, but when I checked, the hotel had no record of them, even though they were registered guests. Stupid computers.
After breakfast and a bunch of laughs, Tim, Lisa and I went to check out the ballroom. I asked one of the setup crew about taking pictures at the show, and was recommended to a fellow named Julius. Well, it turns out that this Julius is a promoter of blues events and the organizer of this show.
I asked around and finally meet this guy. He tells me they were just about to start a luncheon for Bobby Blue Bland in one of the meeting rooms, and wouldn't you know it, their photographer wasn't there. And just guess who got to fill in. See the pics.
When I got to the show, I realized I had forgotten my ticket in my room, and though I was told I would get a media pass, Julius was otherwise occupied.
I could have given up, or snuck in, but decided to play it properly. As the show was about to start, I approached one of the security guys and told him my story. He looked at me and looked at my cameras, said "You look like you know what you're doing", and let me in. See the pics.
So, add a smile or two, a cup of politeness and handful of respect, a dash of good timing and a pinch of blarney (can be substituted with hutzpah). What a recipe.
Gotta run so l can beat the weather. There's a foot of snow in Flagstaff, AZ. I hope it melts before I get there.
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