Rainbows in Waterfalls

(and links so you can check them out):

1.   I wish I had seen Jackson Browne and Sara Watkins at the Ryman (http://www.ryman.com/; http://www.jacksonbrowne.com/; http://sarawatkins.com/).

I have to tell you a story about Sara Watkins. Our hometown Claremore, OK has the Bluegrass and Chili Festival every year. About 2001 (I think), some musicians which were going to play the Chili Fest went to my kids’ elementary school and I think they played a song (not really sure). Of course, the kids wanted to go to see them perform at the chili fest so we went and watched them that night. They were Nickel Creek: Chris Thile, Sean Watkins and Sara Watkins! They were amazing. After the show, my son said, “their music makes me feelhappy.” The way he said it, it sounded like he was experiencing a physical feeling of happiness. I thought that was so cool! We purchased a CD and the band signed it. While we were getting it signed, I told Sara Watkins that it was so nice of them to visit the school and I told her what my son had said. She was wonderfully sweet about it. They were so young and so nice to everyone.

I really wish I had seen Ms. Watkins and Jackson Browne in Nashville (I’ve loved Jackson Browne’s music since high school).

2. I wish I had gone inside the Union Station hotel (http://www.unionstationhotelnashville.com/about-us/history) . We passed it several times on our way to downtown but I never found the time to go in.

3. I wish I had taken the Grand Ole Opry tour and gone to a show at the Opry (http://www.opry.com/). A friend took the tour and then saw the show and they thoroughly enjoyed both.

4. I wish I had gone to Cheekwood Museum and Gardens (http://www.cheekwood.org/Home.aspx). After looking at their website again, I can’t believe I didn’t go. It looks sooooo cool! While we were in Nashville, Cheekwood was having a tree house exhibit. Now wouldn’t that have been great to see? (I Googled images for Cheekwood Treehouses and found lots of pictures. This website had a few but you really ought to Google it yourself (http://acrosstennessee.com/2012/08/treehouse/).

5. I wish I had peeked over the fence to get a picture of the guitar-shaped swimming pool. On our NashTrash tour the guides said it was “the most famous swimming pool you are never going to see.” According to them, Frank Sinatra and Elvis Presley swam in there! You can see it on Google maps by going to Music Circle and Division in Nashville. If you zoom in too much a building will block it, but I discovered something new! (Ok, you’ve probably known it all along – just humor me and think – “wow, that’s neat!”) If you zoom in too much then you turn the little compass in the upper left corner until the N is on the right, you will be able to see the guitar. Admit it, this is new to you too.

6. I wish I had seen more live shows. In a town where every open door has live music pouring out, there are really no excuses for not seeing more shows.

I guess I’ll just have to go back!