Shirley's Stories
Thanks for the invitation Jenn.. I'm happy to be among other Andy
Griggs fans! : ) I became an Andy fan the first time I saw his Video
on CMT " You Won't Ever Be Lonely ". To make a very long story short,
I went to see Andy with my husband, who thinks a I'm a 42 year old
" Groupie! ". I had already joined the fan club and had my meet and
greet pass. I was one of two people there to meet him. She was 18 and I
wish I had her name.. and then there was me.. a 42 year old Mom of 3!
I have to say..I was totally impressed by Andy's politeness and his southern
charm. : ) My husband took our picture together and I got his autograph
on just about everything I had on me.. haha : ). Andy's song touched
my heart in such a way.. that it would just take too long to explain in writing.
I am an Andy fan for life. I hope to see and meet with him again this
year here in Michigan. I'm workin on my Hubby.. : ) Take care all and
Thanks again Jenn.. I'm happy to be apart of this
Holy smokes.. I just don't believe this.. but I won that question contest!!
I just got invited in to this site yesterday and found the info about the
question's for Andy.. I was on there late last night and I won!! I'm still
in shock. I got a call from CountryCool.com around 2:15 this afternoon.
They asked me how would I like Andy to call me !! Heck Ya!!! Andy called
me at 4:45 . I was so excited... first thing he said was, " Hi this
is Brad Paisley..lol" I said.. "no it isn't.. I know that voice" and he just
laughed.. : ) We talked for about 5 minutes or so.. My question was, " Do
you think that you and Stephanie will ever record a duet together? " His
answer was, " He didn't think so.. that Steph is really in to her art and that
she is an awsome artist..he said if I asked her that question she would
probably laugh at me..haha.." Then he asked me if I sang and said maybe
you could sing with me.. haha.. I laughed and said ..yea I sing, in the back
of the church..lol and If I did sing with ya.. nothing would come out cause
I'd be so nervous.. he just laughed.. : ) We talked about the weather here
and about is two concerts planned here in Michigan. He asked me If
I was planning on coming to see him..Alpena Mich is about 3 or 4
hours from me.. I told him I'll have to work on my Hubby for that one.
lol.. he just laughed.. I told him that I would try to get up there.. : ) I
told him that his song.. " You won't ever be lonely" has helped my
marriage so much and I thanked him for that.. He said .." Don't thank
me.. that was God's doing." I told him that God has used him to help me..
and that I thank God and him : ), and look now.. your calling me... I can't
believe you picked me!! Why did you pick me...??? He said, "no one has ever
asked him that question before.." He said it was a very good question and
he thanked me for participating in the contest.. I told him I am his # 3
fan.. No one is more a fan than me, other than his Mother and Stephanie.. : )
He has been such a blessing in my life.. his music was like majic to my
failing marriage.. This is all true.. If it wasn't happening to me.. I just
wouldn't believe it..
Jenn.. I thank you for the invitation to join your club.. This wouldn't
have ever happend without that.. I owe you big time.. : ) Having Andy call
me today was such a thrill and just confirms that we shoud never say
never about the things we want from life.. I've said many times I wish
I would just get an email or letter from Andy..but I know he's busy. But
man, a phone call would be so cool and look what happened.. He
called. : ) He was so funny and nice and put my nerves right at ease.. I
could have talked to him for hours... : ) It was a quick call but it was
great.. It made a very rainy gloomy day here in Michigan very brite for
me: ) I just wanted to share all this with you all who can appreciate my
excitement.! : )
Hi all! Your not going to BELIEVE this!
I just got a call from Country Weekly Magazine.. : ) .. I still can't believe it. I sent them a question for the Q & A in the magazine.. and they picked me!! I just can't believe this..
My question will be in the August Issue of the magazine.. She told me it was a hard choice for
them to make because there is so many questions sent in about Andy. I told her you can put Andy in there every week and we would love it.. She replied.. "He's in there alot.." I said.. "I know.. we love it that way.. : )" She told me my question was a good one and that there is a special answer to it.. so look for it in the August issue on sale August 8th..** A hint about the question.. It was about his guitar strap!** Bye for now.. Shirley.. : ) I am so excited.. : ) My "Andy Thing" just keeps going and going and going... : )
Wow...what a quick trip.. we drove 4 hours up north on Monday night.. got there at 11 pm. Had all day yesterday to just explore. We Played putt putt and rode go carts. WE Got in line at 3:45 for the 6: 30 show.. There were people already in line!! So we stayed right there. They opened the doors at 5:45 and the seats filled quickly. Handicapped people got several of the first rows ( they had a ball.. ! : ) ) and then the sponcors fell in after that.. then us fans.. We sat off to the side of the stage, but up front.. I got lots of good pictures. I think. : ) I'll get them developed today! Andy's concert was held in a big huge tent.. right on the waterfront of Lake Huron. It was cold up there.. 40's to 60"s!! Andy put on such a good show... he gave it all he had.. so much that he was sweatin! Andy had two shows 6: 30 and 9pm.. he packed the house twice.. They all loved him.. Not too many people knew who he was up there.. I talked to several. WEll....They know now..: ) and you should have seen the lines for autographs afterwards. He made a ton of new fans here in Michigan! I gave Andy his first Fishing Lure from the Club and he "loved it!" What a good Idea that was.. : ) How about the name " Andy's Anglers" ? Let me know if you like it.. I never gave him a name even though I had that one in mind. I'll post more later.. Bye for now.. Shirley : )
Hi everybody.. What a day I've had.. Thanks for the nice message Jenn.. I'm pretty happy about my news too. : ) I got my copy of Country weekly and there was my question : ).. I'm happy about that too.. Sad news today was.. I missed Andy's concert tonight.. He was so close to my house.. I swear I could hear him singing.. lol.. and I had to miss it.. I'm still not feeling all that great yet.. It was killing me.. lol I called the radio station and requested " You Won't ever Be lonely" and I told the guy my story of missing the concert and that I had a back stage pass and I was sick about it.. He asked my name and said, Maybe Andy's listening.. what would you like to hear.. so I told him.. He said he was crying with me.. lol I heard one commercial and then I heard ME!! and our whole conversation!!! I didn't know he was recording it.. I thought or hoped he might say something.. but never thought I would hear me.. saying I was Andy's biggest Michigan fan and I was missing his concert cause I was sick... : ) It was great.. and it really helped make my night alot better.. I called and thanked him for being so sweet! : ) I sure hope Andy was listeing to the radio is his bus.. that would be really cool : ) . When I saw Andy in Alpena, Mich he asked if he would see me in Jackson.. I told him I didn't think I could make it.. I was there tonight in spirit.. and on the radio and in the magazine.. Wow.. I can really get around for an ole' girl.. !! haha.. I'm having so much fun with all of this and all of you.. Take care and God Bless.. have a great night.. Bye for now.. Shirley : )
Andy is all over the radio here in Michigan today. He rocked the state last night in Jackson. He is now being referred to as " The Hugger!, " Better than "Tim McGraw!", " Awsome! ", " What a Nice Guy! ". I'm still listening.. there will be more comments to come.! : ) I am so excited and proud for Andy this morning that he did so well and was so well recieved by Michigan...: ) I wish I had been there... but this helps to hear all of this. A female radio person keeps remarking about how she got "two" hugs..: ) and what good hugs they were!! Those of us who have met Andy.. know just what she means! : ) He is a " Hugger! " Way to go Andy...: ) Congratulations on adding Michigan to your list of fan states! Not to knock Reba in any way..cause she is "Great" in her own right... But they don't have much to say about her this morning...I think Andy Stole the show! I'm waiting to hear from my husband who is in Detroit this morning.. he'll tell me what the radio stations in there are saying about Andy! I'll be BAck! Yehaawoouuu!!!! I'm so happy for Andy!!! Bye for now, Shirley : )
12/14/00 2:45 am
Wow.. what a night.. I'll make this short.( yeah right.. !! ) . I need to get to bed.. it's 2 am.. What should have taken us a little over an hour.. took us over two hours to get to the concert.. We drove in a snow blizzard.. It was really bad.. It was worse on the way home! But we made it safe and sound..
Andy's show was GREAT!!! AWSOME!!! and MORE!!! We were the only ones who brought toys...!!! I couldn't believe it.. Best part is.. I happen to ask just the right person about it.. the Radio stations Promotions director!!! She went and checked out my story with Andy's people and came back with " All Access Back Stage Passes for my whole family! The kind you clip on.. like the band members wear!! It was so cool.. and we got to keep them! We not only got to go back and see Andy.. but we got to go back and see Chad Brock too!!!! It was quite a night.. There's so much more to tell.. Andy gave me a hug and a very big warm thank you for the bag of toys... and another Big hug for his bag of gifts and home made cookies.. He said.. " What are you tryin to do.. fatten us up!! " I told them they were for all of the band.. He loved the matching snowflake bag and cookie container's. ! I couldn't believe he said something about it.. : ) I even found a Blue Jean shirt with a black velvet collar with silver metallic snow flakes on the shirt.. Of course I bought it and wore it!! Andy remembered me when he first saw me.. Now that makes a girl feel special! : ) He opened his Andy's Angler's gift.. the small fishing boat... He said.. " Awe man.. will you look at this.. I finally got a boat! I always wanted my own boat and it's from Andy's Angler's! : ) " Everybody was watching and listening.. The Radio Station photographer was just snapping pictures of us left and right.. He's going to put some on the Web site ... and mail me some copies.. I took 60 pictures of Andy and his band.. I had no film left for Chad Brock.. I wasn't thinking.. : ( Jessica Andrews wasn't there.. a schedule conflict they said!! : ( We were bummed. I had no film left for Chad Brock and he was GREAT!! I was just snappin away at Andy.. haha.. The photographer said he'll mail me a copy of our meet and greet with Chad! : ) I had 2nd row seats.. but quickly moved to the front row and stayed there... Andy was inches from me.. He came over to me several times.. : ) Too close at times.. I couldn't get my camera to zoom back fast enough! It was a great show.. We all sang Silent Night together real slow and real quiet.. it was so nice.. ! I had goosebumps all over me.. : )He also sang.. Daddy looked alot like Santa and Jesus Imanuel.. I wish I was still there and he was still singing.. It all went so fast.. I can't believe I'm home and in my P'J's... its over all ready... : ( You wait all this time to see him.. and then it's over so fast..
There's more to tell.. I met Andy's new Mdse guy.. and CJ at the Mdse table.. He forgot the new keychains at the hotel room.. He told me to come there and get one.. !!! He gave me his cell phone number and his room number!!! My husband didn't want to go.. but he did. My daughter and I went in.. but the guy was gone..: ( He went out to the new Casino in down town Detroit! He said he would mail me one... . I talked to Wes on the phone.. from the lobby.. he is the new sound guy.. ! It was killing me to be in the Hotel where Andy was and not see him one more time.. What a night.. Andy's band is so nice.. CJ remembered me too.. and gave me a big hug and said.. How ya doing sweeite.. it's good to see you again!.. Ty and Clayton said Hi and waved to me from the stage... My kids had a great time and had a great back stage experience.. I told them stick with Mom.. I'll get you places!! Dad gets embarassed and back off.. Not Me!! : ) I hope Andy comes back for the Hoe Down this summer.. I'm really gonnna work on that! I'll write more tomorrow.. bye for now.. From Shirley.. I don't think I can sleep!!!! haha..
12/16/00 12:00 pm
2 AMERICAN HUGS.. AND 3 CANADIAN HUGS! : ) I saw Andy again last night!! Oh My Gosh.. what a night. It was very good.. but we had bad seats.. Got there late... and had to sit in the back left side of the stage... but... I certainly didn't stay there! haha.. I moved to the first available empty seat right in front of the stage... and walked up and took several awsome pictures.. Andy was a sweetie and came right up to me... again!! He is so sweet!I have overall 96 pictures to develope and post for you all to see! We didn't get home until 3 am so I didn't post this morning.. you understand.. I wanted too... but I was so tired. I had been up since 6 am that day..!! I was up almost 24 hours, thats a bit much for this old girl!! The concert was at a racetrack/casino..The actual concert was in the club house that faces the track.. All the tables had these little annoying TV's on them.. you couldn't see the stage because of them. SO I stood alot and walked up to the stage alot to take pictures.. I talked to each band member and took pictures with some of them not all..and got autographs.. I missed the meet and Greet!!! Agh.. but luckily Andy was signing autographs at his mdse table and I made sure I was the last in line.. haha.. I got my time Jenn.. !! : ) : ) : ) Just so you know.. I made a wish the other night that I could have more time to talk to Andy.. and I got it last night. See you at the next post.. : )
This was a small very informal place and it was very easy to just walk up the the stage and talk to everyone.. so I did. Before the show I went up and told Andy's road Manager that I missed the meet and greet.. he said Hello to me and said he was glad to see me again.. and told me not to worry.. that he would make sure I saw him after.. : ) So I made sure I was last in line when I got up there.. Andy was very surprised to see us and I got hugs and we talked about the other Concert in Detroit and our drive home in the snow..He asked where my kids were... and he thanked us for driving all that way to see him.. I had no gift.. no fishing anything.. I told him we decided last minute to come based on the weather .. and the ice storm coming and we weren't sure if we could beat it.. But we did! Andy asked me," when will I see you again.." I told him if your with in 5 hours my house.. I'll be there.. and my husband shouted out.. 5 hours!!! and Andy laughed.. and Hugged me! He was so nice.. and then..: )
I said.. "Andy.. I need more time with ya.". He looked surprised and he said.. "what do you need.???" haha I said.. "it all goes too quickly for me..". and then My husband cut in and said,,, " yea... she gets all excited to see ya and then it's over to fast and she gets all down . " Andy said, '' ah man.. don't get down on me.. what do you need? ".. I told him I have so many questions.. and I just need to talk to ya.. ". He said... " well.. go ahead ask me.. " : ) His manager was rushing him at this point and I put my hand on Andy's shoulder and said.. "Please Andy.. can I just talk to ya? " He said.. "sure.." ! So here goes.. as short as I can make it.. 1.) He loves his fishing stuff, he's filling his tackle box !!! Yea!!! , 2.) He might do the Hoe Down in Det.. Yea!!! Just waitin on $$ details, 3.) he got my Singing talkin Fish and bracelets.. and loved them!! yehaw!! 4. ) He goes to New York next, then Ct ( Amy! ) and then to Stephanie! : ) : )
5. ) Next fan club party date is not set yet.. I told him we are all coming: ) 6.) He signed our access passes from the detroit concert that we forgot to get signed.: ) 7. )I told him my kids said. Hi and my day care kids all said hi and All of Andy's Angler's said Hi and Merry Christmas! and he just laughed and hugged me again!.. Andy's manager was rushing him and I leaned over right into his ear.. and said.. "please come to the Hoe down.." He said," I'll sure try, will you be there? " Will I be there.. Oh YeA!!!! . More next post.. : ) I owe my husband big time.. I'm all his for the rest of the day.. I'll be back! there is more : ) Bye for now.. Shirley : )
Here's another little something funny that happened when I saw Andy. On the way to the concert down town Detroit.. I noticed that my husband has his Mossy Oak hunting jacket on.. ! I was so upset with him.. we were going to a Opera House! He said.. > I know, I realized after we left that I had it on, and it was too late to turn back.. I told him I won't be mad if Andy doesn't say anything.. Well.... as we were standing in line to see Andy, I'm next to see him and he looks over at my husband and says.., " Hey.. nice jacket man!.. it's a Mossy Oak too! ".. We all started laughing and then had to explain to Andy why we were laughing. Then Andy and his manager starting laughing and so did everyone in line.. It was pretty funny.. When my husband got up to Andy.. he told Andy how I gave him heck in the car for wearing that.. and thanked him for saving his butt!!! Then they laughed at me!.. Andy was very cool about it.. : )
Last night when my husband agreed to take me to Canada to see Andy again.. he said he would go as long as he could wear whatever he wanted.. I wasn't about to say No to that.. I wanted to go.. So guess what he wore.. His worst jeans.. a long sleve t-shirt.. and his hunting jacket.. !! I didn't say a thing.. I was dressed up in black Velvet! When we walked up to Andy.. he said.. Hey... Nice Jacket man... !!!, It's a Mossy Oak isn't it! haha.. Then they both looked at me.. and laughed! ha ha. I told Andy.. I give him heck for wearing that.. ! My husband says.. Andy is just a regular guy and he doesn't care what we wear.. !
If your not amused.. I guess you had to be there... : ) Bye for now.. Shirley : )
