I got back home about 7:30 pm last night. Had a great time and met so many fans from different areas.
I picked up Prissy on a street corner in Dallas about 6:15 Am Friday morning. We made several stops on the way and arrived at the hotel in Wichita about 12:30 pm. We signed up and paid to ride a really nice charter bus to Hutchinson. The first one left at one but as we could not get into our room yet we opted to take the two o'clock bus. While in the lobby we saw the infamous Bob of "Bob and Linda" fame..he was fixing (southern slang) to get a haircut. Also ran into Alice from Dallas (Cellcert receiver who Clay talked to during one of the conerts). Sooo many celebrities, LOL. The second bus finally arrived and we boarded but Crafty 55 (the lady that organized the hotel, buses, and tent at the fair) had last minute glitches that had to be attended to, so our bus didn't leave until about 2:45. We ate at a really nice food court (air conditioned)
but by 5pm we were finished and wandered over to the grandstand. I purchased some sugar coated, roasted pecans and am snacking on them as I type this. We talked to a lot of Clay fans while we waited on the gates to open at 6:30. One bunch was in pink t-shirts that had Oklahoma clay fans in Hot pink on them (or something to that effect). There was a young girl deparately looking for Jerome so she could audition. Finally we got into the grandstand.
Prissy had to go to the merchandise area to buy JoAnn Moody another shirt so I waited by the fence facing the infield. You could see the buses and people wanderring around, mostly the crew. The buses were lined up facing the 3 & 4 turns of the track all next to each other so you could only see the whole first bus. While I watched two guys came around the buses and walked across to the center of the infield (there were some kind of really low buildings and a ramp that went underground). I remarked on the one guy I could see --he has on some of those fugly shorts but it isn't OMC because the hair is the wrong color. That was Nick. Then Nick turned away and the other guy had some really fugly shorts and a hat..I almost broke my neck trying to get the binoculars out and on. The proceeded to where the underground buildings were.
In a short time I saw Derek Wyatt (Clay's drummer) coming across the track. I have never approached anyone for an autograph but I aproached him. I had made a sign at the hotel that said DFW ioves Clay. I had Derek sign it. Several fans lined up after they saw me with him and one loaned me their sharpie so he could sign my poster. He was so nice and may I say he is the second hottest guy on that tour.
Later we could see the meet and greet - I guess that is what it was because they took a group picture. As he walked off toward the buses everyone screamed and OMC turned and smiled and gave the grandstand a big wave. Before the concert started someone took Clay's blue shirt and grey striped pants from the infield buildings to Clay's bus. I read where he had requested five dressing rooms but was ony given four so I guess he used the bus for his dressing room and let the others have the ones provided.
There was a ramp that came up from the track that the performers used to get to the back of the stage. The stage area was really small and tight for them. Ben Jellen and his crew were really crammed in on the front of the stage and his back drops were not there because Clay's setup was already in place. There was a handicap area right in front of the stage (on the same level) with a lady on each side providing sign language for the hearing impared. Ben's set was short by a couple of songs but he did perform the ones I have come to like, Christine and Revolution.
Before Clay 's set a row of lights came on, on the track about where the ramp was and you could see Clay come across the track with the army that surrounds him. Before he came across the crowd did the ususal "WE WANT CLAY" and later just "CLAY". The lady on the left of the stage signed what we were shouting , just like we were shouting it.
OMC came on and it was the usual heart stopping experience. As everyone knows the songs for the short fair set I won't go into them except they were all great as usual.
while Clay was performing, Ben Jellen went to where they were selling his merchandise. I noticed him and a line formed. It turned out if you bought his cd for $20 (it turned out to be two cd's) he autographed them and let you take a picture with him. Come on Clay- we could take Solitaire through the roof if you would do that and we would pay a fortune for it.
At one point, before OMC came on, I grabbed my disposable camera and ran down there and went to the front of the line and waited. Ben turned and gave me a great smile and I took his picture. I didn't have to buy a thing. Nice guy.
I noticed that Clay's line was non existant. so I ran down and purchased two more Solitaire's .....like I really need them, and a program.
While waiting for my change ( which took forever) "Change of Fools" started and I raced back to my seat. I grabbed my water bottle and noticed that it smelled like beer. I did not investigate but later we discovered that some one behind us had spilled beer and it had run down. Now my Texas Clay Fans bag smells like beer and is stained and since my Texas Clay fans shirt was in the bag it was stained also. I washed it last n ight with a lot of Shout and Era and it is ok. Now to do the bag.
The crowd was large and a little rowdy. But, all in all, they really liked OMC.
Back at the buses (the ony way to go to a fair), we found that the girls in front of us were headed to Michigan. One in the back had the brown lace up shirt, with spaghettti sraps (Clay Merchandise), and light pink pants. She looked adorable. She was from Ft. Lauderdale. There were two girls with Clay Rocks shirts from St. Louis. At breakfast yesterday morning I visited with two ladies, one from Springfield, Illinois and one from the Denver area. A couple from Tulsa who were in line behind me in Dallas were there also. I probably have missed a bunch and I am terrible at names.
I went to move my vehicle closer to the front of the hotel and iscovered it had been Clayed (or thudded). It wouldn't start. I think it was mad that it didn't get to go to the concert. It had been to Indy, Houston, and Dallas and had been good transportation and when it came to the last concert I didn't let it go to the venue. It had Houston bugs all over it's hood but it had taken us to Wichita anyway and I was so inconsiderate.
My insurance company sent a tow truck to start us. I had just about given up and the couple from Tulsa were going to try to jump start it for us when the tow showed up. He barely touched the battery with his cable and she started right up. We said our finaly goodbuys and went to Walmart to have the battery checked. I turned the car off and the battery was pronounced dead. The guy seem to think it might be ok after some travel time. It started up immediately there and we decided not to shut her down until we stopped for lunch in OKC.
I dropped Prissy off at the same street corner I picked her up at.( her husband was waiting for us)(aren't cell phones the greatest thing). I refused to think how long it will be before I might be able to see Mr. Wonderful again or I will be in a downer. I will have my memories of Indy, Houston, Grand Prairie, and Hutchinson, of the concerts and all the great fans that I have encountered.
You better believe I will be glued to my TV Saturday night for the Miss America Pagent.
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