Mighty fine and a great big western howdy, buckaroos and buckarettes! At long last, the First Annual Riders in the Sky Cyberpal Gathering '99 is history! And what history it is. Let me tell ya all about it:
The plan was that Ellen, Amy, Tiff and I would meet at my house to drive up to BCF together. That was the plan, anyway. But the best laid plans of mice and Cyberpals... The Monday before the Gathering, Ellen called and told me her boss had scheduled her for a class for work on the Monday of the show. Much tears and wailing and gnashing of teeth. Amy called, and she was still going. WAHOO!
Ed and I spent the week before cleaning house to get ready for Tiff. The Saturday when she was supposed to arrive, I walked out the front door and was smacked in the face by the foulest stench I'd ever smelled. It was obvious something dead was nearby. While Ed took Gracie outside in the yard and told her to "find" (Gracie is a search & rescue dog), I answered the phone. It was an old fraternity brother of ours (yes, friends, I'm a member of a fraternity--not a sorority-- and yes, I did marry my brother. Frat brother, that is!) who was a block away and wanted to visit for a while. Since he is a close friend who lives in another state and we don't get to see him very often, we of course said "Yes! Come on over!!"
In the meantime, Gracie led Ed straight to the back corner of the yard. As he was putting her back in the house, OD arrived. He and Ed went into the woods on the other side of our fence and there they found a deer that had gotten tangled in the fencing between the interstate and the vacant land next door and expired. They came back inside, found out that the government agencies wouldn't come remove it and we'd have to do it ourselves. Then we stopped working for several hours to visit with OD.
Anyway, after OD left, we started calling the airport to find out whether Tiff's flight was on time. It wasn't. We called over and over because TWA has a terrible system for letting you know what's going on. They sent us through three different phone numbers before we found the automated system, which by coincidence was not working at the time. I waited on hold for over 20 minutes to find out that the woman manning the phone couldn't tell me anything. We called back and called back. They told us several times that the flight was scheduled to leave at 8:25 PM. Of course, the were telling me this at 8:45, 9:15, and 9:30 PM... Finally, we found out that Tiff's flight had left the gate at St. Louis, so Ed left for the airport. A half-hour after he left, Tiff called to say she was still in St. Louis. Her flight from Denver had been delayed by a storm and she wasn't on the plane at St. Louis, so she was coming in Sunday morning. Ed called in a panic to say she wasn't on the plane, so I told him to come home, she'd be in Sunday.
Amy got there bright and early Sunday, and we went to pick up Tiff. She was there, but her luggage wasn't. Because TWA had lost it, and she had finished the trip on United, the two carriers fought over who was responsible for it, and she never did get it this weekend. Tip to the wise, do not fly TWA. Their service was awful; when we went to pick up Tiff, a note on the office said go to the ticket counter to get info. The ticket counter was completely empty. There was nobody at the arrival and departure gates or in baggage either. It took us an hour and a half to find someone to tell us that they didn't have the bags. They wanted the address and phone number of BCF, which we didn't bring into the airport (we had no reason to think we would need it). They were offended when we suggested calling directory assistance to find it...
Anyway, we left for the show at about 1:30. The drive was pleasant, good weather and uneventful. When we pulled into the lot, we were met by Linda and Janet. First of many happy surprises that weekend! We checked in, got our room keys and complimentary Saddlepal badges, and then we all gathered outside the rooms to talk and visit. There we met Lisa and Darrell, another happy surprise. Jill and Donna N. were there too. (Not a happy surprise though. Happy yes, but I'd already met both of them, so no surprise!)
Bobbie and crew arrived shortly thereafter, and I finally met Al after all this time. Then Jackie arrived, and I passed out the program books from the Hospitality House Benefit that Bobbie and I had gathered at the benefit in February and brought back for the Cyberpals.
We all went to dinner, then we came back and spent the evening making signs for the shows. There were some doosies! My favorites were the "Everything I need to know I learned from Riders in the Sky" poster and the "Burma Shave" style signs we all held up. The poem was:
Cyberpals are true blue
We say "the Cowboy Way" on cue
Riders make us swoon
We're hot for every tune
We may appear screechy
Because we think you're peachy
So if we shout too loudly
It's only because we proudly,
Have so much love for you.
We can thank the "poet lariat" of the Cyberpals, Jackie, for that one!
We all went to the luncheon with RITS. When we got there, somebody asked whether anyone had bothered to tell RITS that they were invited, so Jackie, Tiff and I went to the bus to roust them out. That's when we found out that Woody was asleep in the bus, since he had driven 'til 7:00 A.M. and was still exhausted. I was very happy when Joey saw us coming (I was in the back) and immediately made straight for me for a huge bear hug! He sure knows how to make a cowgirl's day!
The luncheon was loads of fun. The "Don't Quit Your Day Job" singers (A.K.A., the Cyberpals!) sang the RITS A-B-Cs (again, written by Jackie...Thanks, Jackie!) and the guys seemed genuinely touched.
A is for the Audience,
B for you Boys too,
C is for your Concerts,
and D for the Driving we do.
E is for Excited!
F Forever Fans!
G is for the Good times,
and H let's give them a Hand
I is for Impressive,
J you're Just too good.
K we think you're Kickin'
L Like we knew you would.
M for Making Music
N for the New fans here,
O is for the Old Ones,
and P for "Please sign here!"
Q is for, "Quiet!
R Riders are gonna start!"
S is for we love to Sing
T Tunes that we know by heart.
U you're Unbelievable,
V for Very nice,
and W is for Waiter "Waiter!"
"I think I need X-tra ice!"
Y is for You all, "Ranger, Joey, Woody and Slim,"
and Z is for that "happy Zone," it's the state that you put us in!
Linda gave the guys the Cyberpals T-shirts we had made for them, and they each got a Cyberpals Gathering '99 button from Bobbie too. Then Slim passed out the cool mouse pads Tiff described (see pic below). We were thrilled with them. What a thoughtful gift from the guys! (I heard that the mouse pads were Bert's idea... Thanks, Bert!) The picture on it was the one from the cover of the Cowboy Sports and Entertainment magazine. For dessert, Lisa and Darrell had brought along several cartons of that wonderful ice cream they get in Pennsylvania, and we all stuffed ourselves on that!
One-of-a-kind (15-of-a-kind?) mouse pad, made especially for the Gathering
Finally, time for the 2:00 show arrived. We had the first two rows, center section, for the show. We whooped and hollered, and of course the Cyberpal T-shirts Linda passed out the night before were everywhere. When RD introduced the boys, he stopped to introduce the Cyberpals first. And of course the Joey Fan Club (a small subset of the Cyberpals) had to holler very loudly for Joey! Some of us even wore our Joey Fan Club T-shirts instead of the Cyberpal T-shirts Sorry guys! Some things are just more important than others!
The playlist for the first show (in no particular order) included:
Texas Plains
Back in the Saddle
How the Yodel Was Born
Desert Serenade (RD, thanks for remembering!)
Texas Sand (And thank you too, Joey!)
Cherokee
Wahoo!
160 Acres
Palindrome
Cowboy Camp Meetin'
Andrew Lloyd Webber Parody
Rawhide (w/Bowling, Bowling, Bowling)
Buffalo Gals
requests (w/Surfin' USA)
Tumbling Tumbleweeds
Fastest Accordion in the West
Hoop Dee Doo Polka
Lonely Yukon Stars
Blue Canadian Rockies
Riding on the Rio
Ghost Riders in the Sky
Christmas Medley (someone requested this because they had never seen RITS do a
Christmas song at a concert. Great idea!)
Yellow Rose of Texas
kids on stage for I'm Going to Leave Old Texas Now
The show was great; the Cyberpals made lots of noise; the boys seemed to have a great time. Of course, every time Joey sang or did a solo, the Joey Fan Club went nuts! He seemed to enjoy the attention. (Sure hope so. We sure enjoyed his music!!!)
After the show, we kind of scattered for a short time. RD asked me to come back to the bus so he could give me the UT '98 Football National Championship T-shirt he had brought me. I asked him whether we were too loud and distracting during the show and told him we could definitely tone it down if they wanted us to. He and Slim said, "Heck no! You're not loud enough! More!"
We all went to relax a bit after the show and get ready for the next one. We went to dinner. Many folks finished and left, but Tiff and I stayed there talking for a while. Then Woody came in for dinner and sat with us, so we did get our lunch with Woody, only later! Guess the King's clock runs on Daylight Savings time, huh?
At the second show, the playlist was something like this:
Texas Plains
Back in the Saddle
How the Yodel Was Born
Texas Sand (Thanks again, Joey!)
Cherokee
Wahoo!
160 Acres
Palindrome
Cowboy Camp Meetin'
Andrew Lloyd Webber Parody
Rawhide (w/Bowling, Bowling, Bowling)
Buffalo Gals
requests (w/Surfin' USA)
Cool Water
At the End of the Rainbow Trail
Don't Sweetheart Me
Clarinet Polka
Celtic Medley
Farr Away Stompp
Roy Rogers Tribute
You Are My Sunshine
Maybe I'll Cry Over You
When Payday Rolls Around
There's a Blue Sky 'Way Out Yonder
Blue Shadows on the Trail
My Oklahoma
Sioux City Sue
Flag Day Tribute
Pinto Pal
I was thrilled when they did "Pinto Pal." That has my favorite yodel in it! I love that song! And "My Oklahoma," and Joey sang "Don't Sweetheart Me," which faithful saddlepals will no doubt recall is the first complete song he ever sang on Riders' Radio Theater. It was at the end of the "Can Joey Do It" bit. I was in heaven. Of course, the Joey Fan Club went crazy over that one too! "Jo-EY! Jo-EY! Jo-EY!" rang out throughout the night!
And those of us who cringe each time Woody says "Heck no, I don't!" during "Sioux City Sue" got him good this time. We all shouted "Indeed we do!" and drowned out the "Heck no, I don't!" Woody was stunned, and RD commented that he felt like he was at the Rocky Horror Picture Show.
We held up the state signs after intermission. We had 8 states and 2 countries represented. Not bad for a first gathering in the first year of an organization, huh? But next time, there will be more, won't there?
And little Jess (Bobbie's granddaughter, for you new folks!) won an 8-track tape with the question, "What's an 8-track tape?" She was definitely a happy camper that night!
Then the fly that had been following me all around our room evidently followed me to the evening show and decided to "bug" the guys while they were singing. Of course, he was incorporated into the show. Slim grabbed some paper (their play list?) and started to swing at it, whereupon RD's eyes went wide and he yelled, "Don't swat me!" The fly decided to land on Woody's microphone and distract Woody for a while, then it started buzzing Joey, who sang "Swatter! Swatter!" instead of "Water! Water!" on "Cool Water."
When Slim started the bit about how adding "Phweet, Hyaw!" can make any song better, and proceeded to do it to show RD how it works, all the lady Cyberpals had to squeal to let him know it worked. Then Slim asked RD what he did to entice the ladies, and he yodeled. Of course, we squealed even louder then. They asked Woody what he did, and he said he took antidepressants, then they asked Joey what he did. He played a riff on his accordion and yelled "Hoop Dee Doo!" The Cyberpals squealed loudest of all for that. Must have been the Joey Fan Club!
Finally the show was over, the last song sung, the last picture taken, and the last autograph signed, and Gathering '99 was over. There were tears and hugs as the Cyberpals said goodbye to each other the next morning, but it was a wonderful weekend, many friendships cemented and many happy memories made. Those of you who missed it simply must come next year. We're not sure where it's going to be, but as soon as the plans get made, we'll announce it. This must be repeated! Oh, and many of the Cyberpals who attended the Gathering already have tickets to come to Cincinnati in October for the Riders' Radio Theater tapings. (14 of us the first night, 16 the second.) Call WVXU for tickets (I think the number is 513-784-6838.) That's an experience no Cyberpal should be without! See ya there!
Until donna j. rides your way once again, so long saddlepals! It's been so good to see ya!
donna j.
Every day...the Cowboy Way!
All photos and material ©1999-2013 by donna j. except "RITS A-B-Cs" and the Burma Shave-style poem, ©1999 MJ Hecht
