Willie Nelson

Last night, Mike and I joined Minnesota Mom & Dad, Aunt Mary, Uncle Jim and Sandy & Bob Fenske for dinner and entertainment in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. Mike and I started the day doing all our overdue jobs around the house though, and since we finished in record time, Mike treated me to breakfast at "Mike's Diner" before we headed out for 3 hour bike rides in the lovely, sunny Prairie light winds!

There were parades and other "going's on" all over town for the grand finale of the Marshall Sounds of Summer, and so by the time I hit Lynd, there was absolutely nobody on the already traffic free roads for the rest of the ride.

We car-pooled to Sioux Falls for dinner at Johnny Carino's (I was glad I remembered how to get there!), and we ate alot of food (how unusual!) and left in a nick of time to make it to the auditorium (that I think used to be a high-school?) before the sold out (5K people or so) show. We were greeted by folks wearing tuxedo's and directed to our reserved seats up the four flights of stairs in the balcony seats. (I never went to a high-school with this fancy of an auditorium, so they must have done some remodeling!)

For a 72 year old guy (born April 30, 1933 in Abbott, TX), Willie can still rip-it up on stage. He had his sons with him...the elder of which must have been a protege of Stevie Ray Vahnn (Texas Flood!), along with a band comprised of guys who have been playing together for 39 years! It was a hoot! No opening act, just Willie and Family & Friends, being enjoyed by the Taylor's and Family & Friends!

Happy Monday!