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Heavy Metal Meets Mayberry: A Rural Rescue Rate-A-Record

Help me Ozzy-Wan Kenobi; you’re my only hope

Paul Combs
3 min readJan 29, 2023
Ozzy in 1982 (Image: Wikimedia Commons)

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.

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Paul Combs
Paul Combs

Written by Paul Combs

Writer, bookseller, would-be roadie for the E Street Band. My ultimate goal is to make books as popular in Texas as high school football...it may take a while.

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