Why haven't I done that before???

I can't believe that after living over half of my life in Music City, USA, I have never been to the Bluebird Cafe before tonight! I guess it's that old thing about natives not doing things in their hometown that the tourists do, but I don't think the Bluebird is just for tourists. First of all, you have to know about it and how to get a table, because it's so small you might not get a seat if you wait until the last minute to go. In fact, my friend made a reservation on Tuesday before the show on Friday and got the last reserved seat. Of course, that meant that I, who didn't decide for sure to go until later in the week, had to get in the standing room only line. But, since we got there early enough, and because my friend graciously gave up her reserved seat so she could sit with me at the bar, we were seated and got to eat and visit before the show began.

While we were standing in line, we struck up conversations with those around us. One couple had driven up from Cullman, AL, about two and a half hours away, because they like to go to live music shows. They'd never been to the Bluebird either. Another guy was a Bluebird veteran, and lived in Nashville. Part of the fun of the evening was just getting to talk to these people and share the experience together.

Our motivation for trying out the Bluebird was our friend and fellow Grace Community Church member, Paul Bogart, an up-and-coming singer/songwriter from Oklahoma. He and three other songwriters sang "in the round" and all of them shared some great songs. We also saw several other GCC-ers, across a broad age spectrum, I might add. They came to see Paul as well, and it was fun to see familiar faces across the room.

I will definitely go back to the Bluebird sometime. I wonder what other treasures I haven't taken advantage of in the past 23 years of living in this city???? (Yes, I've been to the Ryman Auditorium and the Grand Ole Opry!!!)