The wait at the border was two hours. Particularly frustrating when you live 10 mins. away from the crossing and only a 20 min.drive in TOTAL from the venue. Of course we were told to pull over and report inside with our I.D. Luckily, no cavity searches were performed just a battery of questions wondering why we'd decided to go to the Fair. I rather rudely asked if it was for U.S. citizens only. You'd think a border guard dealing with a 2 hr. line-up would realize that the bulk of the traffic was going to the bloody Fair just down the road!!!???

Arriving at the Fairgrounds with time to spare we took our seats and watched Merle's longtime backing band The Strangers warm the crowd up. Merle opened up with "Working Man's Blues" which is my Dad's favorite Merle song. He was in awesome voice, smooth clear and that gruffness when it was required. I don't have a set list but the essentials were played "Big River", "Tonight, The Bottle Let Me Down", "Silver Wings", "Mama Tried" and my fave "If We Make It Through December". His band was TIGHT for a bunch of guys gettin' their seniors discount!! Except for the bass player and lead guitarist I'd bet those good 'ol boys were 60+. Actually my biggest cheers and applause were for Merle's turn on lead guitar. All sorts of really fluid, really Telecaster sounding runs. The obligitory closer was "Okie From "Muskogee" which had the crowd standing and singing along. A much needed and deserved evening of live music from a true legend, not just a country legend. Merle's right up there with Willie, Waylon and dare I say Johnny Cash.