Happy Friday, everyone. I hope you are looking forward to a great weekend!
I’m so sorry, but this Friday Free-For-All is canceled. I am out of town doing one of the things I love the most—attending a music festival!
This music festival is super special to me, and I’ll explain why.
TAFG was the first music festival I participated in after my husband died in 1989.
I had left Coleman and moved to McKinney, but desperately wanted to keep the music world Rick and I created together going in some way or another. We had met Tommy through a mutual friend, George Martin, and formed an immediate kinship with Tommy and his band.
So, it was only natural for me to seek out Tommy’s music during a time when I was faced with reinventing a life for myself without Rick. It was suggested that I consider volunteering at TAFG.
One Sunday afternoon, Tommy was playing at Hank’s in McKinney. So, I approached Gary Newell (festival coordinator) about volunteering at the next festival, and I’ll never forget his immediate response. “Sure,” Gary said. “We always need someone to clean portapotties.” I cleared my throat and got a little nervous. I wasn’t sure I wanted to sign up for that, but whatever it took. 
So, I started working the gate with Julie, and some other ladies. If you aren’t familiar with the gate, it’s where we scan tickets and issue armbands.
At first, I was an outsider. I had no history with all these people, but I had a deep abiding love for, and need for, the music. So, I kept showing up, year after year, and soon, I formed bonds and friendships with the festival workers and goers. Now, it’s like extended family. I know in my heart of hearts, if I had serious troubles in life, I could call on any of them, and they would drop everything and come to help. That’s not something you find every day, and I do not take it lightly.
Now, thirteen years later, I am looking forward to another gathering and family reunion. There is just something special about Tommy’s gathering besides it being my first music festival experience. There is love. There is music. There is kinship. I’m so glad George Martin and Julie Kidwell pointed me in the right direction. I’ll be forever grateful.
Comments are closed. See you the following Friday!
Also, because of being gone, there will be no regular Monday post. They will resume the following week.
