A Childhood Memory, My first concert in Tennessee

   When I think back to my childhood, there’s one memory that stands out above the rest, one that still fills my heart with joy and gratitude. Every summer, my daddy would save up all year long to take us on a family vacation. It wasn’t anything extravagant, but it was always the highlight of our year. We would pile into the car, drive to either Six Flags over Georgia or Nashville, Tennessee, and go to the theme parks and usually something my momma would enjoy. 

    One of our favorite stops was always Opryland USA, a theme park filled with roller coasters, kiddie rides, and, of course, musical shows. It felt like a world of its own, a place where music and adventure collided. My momma didn’t like roller coasters or fast rides, so my daddy would take my sister and me on the rides, while my momma would spend the day watching the shows. She loved country music, and her dream was always to see a famous country singer live.

    But one of the most unforgettable moments came when we went to the Grand Ole Opry. We couldn’t afford tickets to the concert, but my daddy took us to the lobby anyway. As we stood there listening to Loretta Lynn’s concert echoing through the walls, I would run to the double doors and peek through to see if I could see her, we didn’t know that something magical was about to happen.

    A man working at the concession stand came over to my daddy and said, “Go on in, I won’t say anything.” We couldn’t believe it,he was letting us into the concert! As we walked in, the lights were shining on the stage, the music was loud and exciting, and there she was, Loretta Lynn. And as if that wasn’t enough, Conway Twitty, my mom’s favorite singer, came on stage, and my mom was over the moon.

    I was just about six years old at the time, but I already knew every word to Loretta Lynn’s “Coal Miner’s Daughter.” I had always dreamed of being like her, she was my favorite country singer. Momma had her cassette tape and I listened to it over and over, and that night felt like my dream had come true. After the concert, we waited outside by Loretta’s tour bus with a crowd of other fans. And then it happened, Loretta Lynn came out, and she walked right over to the crowd and I yelled that I loved her and she looked at me. She shook my hand, then grabbed me and gave me a hug, and took a picture with me. I was star struck! 

    At that moment, I thought I had touched the stars. It was the first concert I’d ever attended, and it remains one of the most magical memories of my childhood. That experience, filled with kindness and unforgettable moments, showed me the power of music, dreams, and the magic that Tennessee holds.