Oklahoma Centennial Spectacular

Oklahoma turned 100 Friday and to celebrate the occasion, a spectacular was thrown at the Ford Center in OKC. It was filled with many great performances and appearances by famous Oklahomans. It started out with an “Oklahoma Swing” sung by Vince and Reba and accompanied by square dancers. In what is perhaps my most favorite thing in the world to see, they had a Bald Eagle fly from the crowd to the stage. Every time I see that it makes tears well up. I can’t really explain why, it just always moves me. There were Native American dancers and an incredible acrobat that performed on two cloth strips hung from the ceiling. Willard Scott was present to announce 25 centenarians and one man who was 106 sang what was the Oklahoma state song before “Oklahoma”. It was a very moving performance. For all of those who bought tickets hoping to see Garth perform were disappointed. He presented the tribute to the Alfred P. Murrah building bombing victims and introduced Reba singing “If I Had Only Known”. Toby Keith sang “American Soldier” as men and women from the National Guard at Ft. Sill lined the stairway. Five of the six Miss Americas from Oklahoma shared the stage. Oklahoma has the most of any state. Shirley Jones was on hand to sing a couple of songs from the movie Oklahoma, in which she played Laurey Williams. The woman can sure still sing it. There was a tribute to maybe the most famous of our state, Will Rogers. It seemed like he was always chewing gum. Makes me feel a sort of kinship. The show ended with Vince singing “Oklahoma Rising”, the song that he and Jimmy Webb co-wrote for the centennial, while a giant Oklahoma state flag was raised above the stage. It was then followed by “Oklahoma”. The ending was quite exciting with fireworks and confetti filling the air.

I’m always proud to say I’m from Oklahoma. I really wouldn’t want to live anywhere else. Where else on Earth can you get such a wide range of climates in such a small area? How many other places can go from 80 degrees to below freezing in one day (sometimes in a matter of hours)? Sure we have our problems, but as a whole it would be tough to find better people anywhere in the world. I encourage our generation, and younger generations, to look into the past and take up the values that have made this state so wonderful.

Here’s my list of “You know you’re in (from) Oklahoma when”:

You say you’re going to “the City” and everyone knows which city you are talking about.
You measure distance in time instead of miles.
The trees all lean towards the north.
You understand the real meaning of “bedlam” and are most likely crimson or orange (Go Pokes).

Cool Weather

I always think I’d like a temperature change until it happens. Most of the time it’s from summer to fall. I do like changing weather; warm to cool, cool to warm, parched to rainy, but not so drastic as we’ve had this week. And I’m sure it just seems that way because it’s the first cool front of the year. I was telling myself that in mid-winter I’ll be saying how it’s nice and warm when it’s only 50 degrees outside. Dragging out the winter wardrobe is always cool too. It’s like all new clothes. This year it was especially exciting since I was able to fit some shirts that I had been saving “just in case” I could fit them again sometime. Now I can.

The wetness has been strange this year as well. The grass is still green. By this time, it’s usually starting to go dormant. The leaves are just now starting to turn, with only a few leaving the branches. The wind has been true to Oklahoma form this week. As my cousin from Arkansas once said “No use in fixing your hair”. It’s great to be an Oklahoman.

Reba Duets Released Today

I purchased the new Reba Duets album from iTunes today (they have the digital booklet that comes with the album. Very cool.). So far my favorite song, after “Because of You” with Kelly Clarkson, is “The Only Promise That Remains” with Justin Timberlake.

The video for “Because of You” is currently at #1 on GAC Top 20 Country Countdown and CMT Top Twenty Countdown.

Reba is also going to be at the Oklahoma Centennial Spectacular at the Ford Center in Oklahoma City on November 16 of this year. She’ll be joined by Vince Gill, Garth Brooks, Toby Keith, Carrie Underwood, and more. Tickets seem to be sold out already (there are some on Ebay), but it says it will be shown on OETA as well. I would love to see her in concert again. It’s been about 15 years since I last went to one of hers.