Sharpwriters' Thoughts Blog Archives - Archives - July 2001 June 2002 July 2002 August 2002 September 2002 October 2002 November 2002 December 2002 January 2003 February 2003 March 2003 April 2003 May 2003 June 2003 July 2003 August 2003 September 2003 October 2003 November 2003 December 2003 January 2004 February 2004 March 2004 April 2004 May 2004 June 2004 July 2004 August 2004 September 2004 October 2004 November 2004 December 2004 January 2005 February 2005 March 2005 April 2005 May 2005 June 2005 July 2005 August 2005 September 2005 October 2005 November 2005 December 2005 January 2006 February 2006 March 2006 April 2006 May 2006 June 2006 July 2006 August 2006 September 2006 October 2006 November 2006 December 2006 January 2007 February 2007 March 2007 June 2007 August 2007 September 2007 December 2007 March 2008 May 2008 July 2008 August 2008 April 2009 September 2009 October 2009 December 2009 January 2010 February 2010 June 2010 Current Posts Saturday, June 11, 2005 Cotton-eyed Joe! I haven't been to a honky-tonk in years, never actually anticipated returning to one, but I wouldn't trade my experience last night for many others! Of course I experienced it through eyes other than mine, that those were the eyes of my new Russian friends. Natalia Shiroglazova and Yulia Smakulova have stayed with us since Thursday, and we'll be sad to see them go tomorrow. They and their friends Anna Karpova, Olga Chikova, and Larissa Permyakova, all of the city of Izhevsk in the Republic of Udmurtia, are delightful. The five are visiting Rotarians in District 5790 are currently the guests of my club and the other two Abilene organizations. They've done the proper, expected things. Since Olga and Anna are physicians, they visited Abilene Regional Medical Center. Natalia, a university professor, was at home when they visited Abilene Christian University. Yulia who is a travel agent has visited with her Texas counterparts, and Larissa who works for a governmental agency and maintains English-language web sites saw our courthouse. They've eaten the best Abilene has to offer and are now seeing Frontier Texas, the Grace Museum, the NCCIL and the 12th Armored museum. At the ladies special request, though, Bill Page and I experienced a honky-tonk with them last night. What great fun! They sat on the high stools gathered around a little table, drinking their beer and thoroughly enjoying watching the dance floor. I kept wanting to ask some of the men to ask them to dance, but I didn't see any of the probation officers who were the only men I thought frequented bars that I might know. I didn't need to worry, though. When the opening strains of Cotton-eyed Joe! began, and other women started dancing, I suggested they get out there. They did! From that point on, others asked them to dance and most of the time one or more of them were on the dance floor. It was a great night, and as Bill said to me, "I don't think these ladies will forget Abilene!" And I certainly won't forget them, and Cotton-eyed Joe! will always have a fond place in my heart as well. Share | posted by Barbara Rollins @ 11:00 AM 0 Comments: Post a Comment Subscribe to Post Comments [Atom] << Home