Sonny Riddle

Yee-Hi!
Do ya like country music?
Whether you enjoy country music or not, you probably would have enjoyed the Country Music Association’s awards show last Wednesday. It had something for everybody!
Country music isn’t the same old twangy stuff it was when I was a youngster. Of course, you could argue about that too. Artists like Patsy Cline and Gentleman Jim Reeves certainly weren’t twangy. These two brought a sort of uptown sound, a taste of sophistication to country music. Just listen to Cline’s “Sweet Dreams” or Reeves’ “He’ll Have To Go,” to name just a couple of the good ones.
Of course, some of the vocalists back then were in a class by themselves. There were the velvet vocals of Nat King Cole the old crooner Bing Crosby, Patti Paige, ol’ blue eyes Frank Sinatra, the romantic sound of Dean Martin.
Anyway, back to country music. The genre has evolved over the years from the old hayride and barnyard music to the modern electric country sound. Just look at the stars of country music today…Kenny Chesney, Brad Paisley, Keith Urban, George Strait, Toby Keith, Trace Adkins and others; the ladies of country music…Carrie Underwood, Taylor Swift, Martina McBride, Miranda Lambert, Sara Evans, Reba McIntire, LeeAnn Rimes, Gretchen Wilson, and Shania (she’s back, folks) Twain.
Look at the duos and groups…Rascal Flatts, Brooks and Dunn, Sugarland, Montgomery Gentry, Big and Rich, etc. Then there are the up and coming stars, like Lady Antebellum, Little Big Town, Kellie Pickler, Bucky Covington, and others.
And don’t forget about the artists who have crossed over to country music…Jewel, Jessica Simpson, Kid Rock, and the Eagles, to name just a few.
Anyway, country music has a tremendous following. Just flip around the radio dial and count the number of country stations you find. And country music fans are some of the most loyal fans anywhere. Just look at the attendance figures at concerts.
I guess you’d have to call me a convert. I’ve made the switch to country music from rock. I still like the classic oldies, but I listen to country now…and from what I have seen, I’m not alone!
*****
Madam Secretary

Have you heard the latest buzz regarding who possibly could show up in President-Elect Obama’s cabinet?
Senator Hillary Clinton has been mentioned as one of the frontrunners for Secretary of State. WOW, what a move that would be for our new president!
Remember the old adage, “Keep your friends close, and your enemies closer.” Now, I’m not saying that Senator Clinton is an enemy, but she did oppose the president-elect when he was seeking the Democratic nomination for president.
The late President John F. Kennedy did something similar when he selected Lyndon B. Johnson as his running mate back in 1960.
If Senator Clinton is the president’s choice, I hope it works out..for her, for him, but mostly for us!
*****

Family Values

I lost a cousin last week, and it really hit me hard when I learned of his death. We weren’t especially close, but that’s what hurt so much. I never established what you would call a close relationship with my relatives on my father’s side of the family, and I truly regret that.
I was a child of divorce, and I lived with my mother after my parents split when I was about six. I did get to spend time with my father, and some of that was spent with his brothers and sisters, but not enough to be sure.
My father died when I was only 14 years old, and he was the youngest of nine children, so most of my cousins are older than me.
When I was grown I tried to reacquaint myself with my uncles and aunts, but the ones who survived were of advanced age and, alas, I didn’t have enough time with them.
Your relationship with your family is the most important relationship you can have, aside from your relationship with God.
Don’t take family members for granted. Cherish them while you have them with you. Spend time with them, and make them an integral part of your life. I plan to try to make up for lost time with my relatives and try to recoup some of the years I lost.
Nothing matters so much as family…everyone else is just a stranger.
Remember, I’m pulling for you…we’re all in this together!