The Willie Nelson story
It just occurred to me that I've never posted my Willie Nelson story; the story I tell everyone I meet who even mentions his name. And since Paul Giamatti (via unconquerable gladness) would like to try out his soul for a day (great choice!) and I'll be seeing him next week with Bob Dylan, I thought now was as good a time as any.
When I was in college I had a work study job in the Admissions office and got to know Barbara and Richard, a married couple from south Jersey. I worked for Barbara all four years, mailing out applications and school bulletins to prospective students. I really hit it off with Richard when he learned I was a country music fan. As a graduation gift, Barbara and Richard gave me a ticket to see Willie Nelson with them at Radio City Music Hall. Over the years after graduating, we kept in touch and occasionally would get together (they lived very close to my aunt and uncle in Forked River, NJ). Several years later I learned that Barbara was seriously ill. The doctors weren't sure what was wrong at first. One thought it might be Mad Cow Disease, one thought it was Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease. After a prolonged and agonizing process, it was finally determined that she had had a stroke and eventually she had to be admitted to a nursing home. While she was in the nursing home, a friend of Richard's who knew Willie Nelson invited him to meet Willie before a show at Great Adventure in NJ. While they were sharing a Lone Star Beer (Richard didn't smoke weed) and talking in Willie's tour bus, Richard mentioned that his wife was in a nursing home. Willie immediately asked him if he could make arrangements for a visit after the show. When Richard called, the nurse who answered the phone didn't believe him (Richard had a reputation as a joker). "Sure, Richard, bring him down," she said sarcastically. So, after the show they drove down to the nursing home. "Where's Willie?" the nurse asked just before she caught sight of the Red Headed Stranger coming around a corner and dropped her coffee. Willie played a couple songs for Barbara and the other patients and staff and probably made a few new fans for life. Although she was unable speak, Richard could tell by the look in her eyes how happy the visit had made Barbara. I wasn't there, but it's an image of Barbara, who died not long after, that I'll never forget.
When I was in college I had a work study job in the Admissions office and got to know Barbara and Richard, a married couple from south Jersey. I worked for Barbara all four years, mailing out applications and school bulletins to prospective students. I really hit it off with Richard when he learned I was a country music fan. As a graduation gift, Barbara and Richard gave me a ticket to see Willie Nelson with them at Radio City Music Hall. Over the years after graduating, we kept in touch and occasionally would get together (they lived very close to my aunt and uncle in Forked River, NJ). Several years later I learned that Barbara was seriously ill. The doctors weren't sure what was wrong at first. One thought it might be Mad Cow Disease, one thought it was Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease. After a prolonged and agonizing process, it was finally determined that she had had a stroke and eventually she had to be admitted to a nursing home. While she was in the nursing home, a friend of Richard's who knew Willie Nelson invited him to meet Willie before a show at Great Adventure in NJ. While they were sharing a Lone Star Beer (Richard didn't smoke weed) and talking in Willie's tour bus, Richard mentioned that his wife was in a nursing home. Willie immediately asked him if he could make arrangements for a visit after the show. When Richard called, the nurse who answered the phone didn't believe him (Richard had a reputation as a joker). "Sure, Richard, bring him down," she said sarcastically. So, after the show they drove down to the nursing home. "Where's Willie?" the nurse asked just before she caught sight of the Red Headed Stranger coming around a corner and dropped her coffee. Willie played a couple songs for Barbara and the other patients and staff and probably made a few new fans for life. Although she was unable speak, Richard could tell by the look in her eyes how happy the visit had made Barbara. I wasn't there, but it's an image of Barbara, who died not long after, that I'll never forget.
posted by BayonneMike at 9:24 AM
6 Comments:
I think you told this story to me once -- Didn't Willie light up in the nursing home?
and didn't Willie bring his guitar to the bedside?
Nah, I think Willie restrained himself in this instance.
Yeah, he brought his guitar (it was either that or bring the whole band).
one of my fave stories!
one of my fave stories!
Good guy.
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