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Heavy Metal Meets Mayberry: A Rural Rescue Rate-A-Record
Help me Ozzy-Wan Kenobi; you’re my only hope
I have mentioned in several recent stories that I have been in East Texas helping ensure that my octogenarian stepfather does not accidently burn down the house while my mother recovers from a bout of pneumonia. When she first entered the hospital I expected to be here for three or four days; today marks day 26, with at least another week to go. It has been challenging to say the least, for all of us.
I have also mentioned before that I have been watching the rodeo every night for the past couple weeks; ironically it is broadcast by the Cowboy Channel from the Fort Worth Stock Show and Rodeo, which is held not far from where I normally lived before the 3rd of January. This nightly viewing extravaganza even inspired a bonus Rate-A-Record featuring some great rodeo songs.
This was all good and fine until last night. Before the rodeo started, my stepdad turned on RFD-TV, the channel for all things rural (seriously, it’s a real thing). They were broadcasting Marty Stuart from the Grand Ole Opry, singing “Are You Prepared to Meet God,” complete with fiddle and mandolin and backup singers. I realized sometime during the second verse that I was actually humming along. God help me, no pun intended.