As I sit here, listening to tonight's program (one I have heard many times before, but never tire of), I think of all the years of pleasure I have received from this group.
I have been a fan for many years, hearing them for the first time back in the early 1980's and then watching them on tv ever since their first show. I don't remember when I first became enthralled with gospel music as I remember listening to it on the radio as a youngster.
For years I would hear them announce where they were going to be performing live and think to myself, "someday I will go to one of their concerts" but it never seemed to work out. When we moved to our present location, one of the first announcements I saw on the tv was for the Gaithers going to be in the area on November 16, that would have been 2004. Being one month new to the area, I had no idea where the venue was and of course, knew no one to go with. The next opportunity was in Louisville, a couple of years I go, I think, but again, had no idea where it would be or who I could go with.
However, this past early spring, a couple of very dear and special friends called and asked if I had seen the ads for the Gaithers and they would be coming to the area in May. I had not seen the ad and told them if they got tickets to be sure and get me one - and to my wonderful surprise - they informed me they already had our tickets purchased and I was being invited to go as their guest. This was sometime in February or March, which meant that I had to be really careful that nothing changed in my health to prevent me from going!!! I counted every day away and then finally - the 22nd of May came and what a day - it was one of the most unforgettable days in my life. Thank you, thank you Kathy and Clint for this most wonderful day. Now when I watch them on tv I can feel myself back in the arena enjoying it in person. So I guess, thanks to those two dear friends, I have chalked off another item on my bucket list!
What is so crazy about all of this is, that as much as I enjoy gospel music, I am also a big fan of opera!!! I have admired anyone who has had the blessing of being able to sing. I spent many Saturday mornings from my teens through the past few years, listening to the Metropolitan Opera broadcasts. While living in the Detroit area, I could hardly wait until May when the Met would come to the Masonic Temple for a week. That was my week when everything else took second place and I went to nearly every performance that week. I would tease my husband that if I failed to come home after the last evening performance of the week, that I may have been lucky enough to be packed with the scenery and on my way to New York! Never happened, but I could dream. Each year from 1959 when the opera weeks began in Detroit, I would get a record album of one of the operas I had seen that year from my husband.
The worse part of all of this is that I was not blessed with a good voice. But I take comfort in enjoying the beautiful music around me and know that someday I will sing with the angels and I will finally have the voice I desired all these years. And then watch out!!!
Well, enough about this tonight - but thank you, Bill, Gloria and your wonderful troupe and special thanks to you Kathy and Clint. Hugs and love to all.
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