Case in point; we left Nashville, TN for Winston Salem, NC at 5 a.m.
for a show that same night at 6 p.m.. An eight-hour trip if you’re
not in a hurry. We gave ourselves 12 hours after calculating for the
hour loss because of the time difference. This, we thought, would be
more than enough time. We arrived in Winston around 12:30 their
time. With plenty of time, we met Tim’s parents and brother and
his wife for lunch. A nice, relaxing, sit down lunch with literally
no pressure to hurry or cut short our visit. We finished lunch and
found ourselves in the church parking lot around 3:00. It was a very
nice building, very large with an abundance of outside doors. We
thought we’d take the chance and see if anyone happened to be
there or perhaps a door to the office section would be open. After
all, we had seen a couple of cars outside the office door, which was
in the back where we were parked.
Tommy was first to make the rounds. Checking every door with a knock
and wiggle of the handle. It was quite warm so we decided to go to
the store for drinks. We drove around town, taking in the area and
generally, killing time.
Once back at the church, boredom gave cause to tossing the football
in the parking lot, something we need little reason to do. Darrell,
then Chewie took their turns walking around the building checking
doors. With an hour and half before the singing was to start,
someone should be there soon to open the church up. By this time we
had moved from the large parking lot in the back to the front of the
church under the large oak trees. Suddenly the front door opened and
someone poked their head out then shut the door having not noticed
us. We quickly knocked and were greeted by a lady and then the
preacher. Both of which, along with some others, had been at the
church all day. Apparently no one heard the countless knocks and
door handle jiggles that had been peppering the church for the last
three hours. Nor had they heard the screams of, “Touchdown!” or,
“You call that a throw?” coming from the back parking lot.
We quickly set up and ran a hurried sound check. Something we had
previously thought would be a deliberate and calculated action.
Afterwards, we were led through the back hallways of the massive
church to a large dressing room used for the choir to prepare. With
a now fuzzy since of time, we were dressing for the night’s
singing with Chewie leaning against the doorway spouting, “What
did I tell you? What did I tell you? It makes no difference what
time we get anywhere, we’re always going to be late!”
No sooner had he finished his reminder of his long stated prophecy
than we heard coming from the main sanctuary a voice over the PA,
“We’re pleased to have the Waymasters with us tonight…” A
quick glance around the room found Darrell still slipping on his
boots and Tim still in the process of changing. Tommy had already
made it to the stage while the rest of the group ran through the
hallways buttoning shirts and fixing hair with Chewie calling out
all the while, “Three hours! Three hours early and still late!”
Now, we know all
this sounds a bit out there, but for us, it’s not the first time
and according to Chewie, it won’t be the last. So what’s the
lesson to be learned here you ask…well, we have no idea. Only
suffice it to say, if indeed in heaven the first shall be last and
the last shall be first, you’ll know were to find us in line!
Until next month,