Branson

We've had some good times at Branson in the past.  Country music singers who were popular in the seventies, some of our favorites, can be seen there.  I love Mickey Gilley and Moe Bandy, both of whom still have shows in Branson.  The Presleys and Baldknobbers are talented and fun.  
Cliff suggested we head to Branson Sunday morning, get there while the traffic was still moving (as opposed to sitting still), find a motel, and see a show or two.  He had expressed interest in the Titanic exhibit, so we thought maybe we'd see that in the afternoon and catch a show at 8 P.M.  

We walked from our motel to the Titanic museum, only to find out on the way that there were no shows of interest on Sunday night.  I still don't know whether this is normal for Sunday, or because it was the 4th of July.  However, the Titanic was going strong, so we spent three hours there.  It was interesting, but not really worth the $45 spent on two tickets.  
Obviously my knees have deteriorated in the two years since we were last there, because they didn't take kindly to the more than two-mile hike one way.  They are still tormenting me today.  
We were almost back to our motel when I spied a leather shop across the road in a strip mall, and we shopped there for awhile.  I got myself a black leather purse and a leather fanny-pack for a good price.  We were celebrating my birthday, you know.  Then we exited into an open area of the mall where people were gathered for a free show of some kind.  An aging lady in sequins was announcing that the star was almost ready to appear, and we found some seats.  Maybe we'd see a show after all, right?  
Music started playing:  It was that music that always played for Elvis before he came onstage (like in this video I found on Youtube, although this guy is much more talented than the one we saw).  It went on and on, and curiosity was getting the best of me.  Now folks, I had my camera in my pocket.  But I was so dumbfounded at what I saw, the camera didn't even enter my mind.  I could have had a video that would have made your day.  
The world's worst Elvis imitator came out and started singing "See, See Rider".  He had a wig that honestly looked like a piece of black plastic.  
We made it through two or three lines of the song before we beat a hasty retreat back to our stinking motel room where I fought with the intermittent Internet connection and Cliff watched John Wayne movies.  
I was reminded once again that I have to go to Branson at least once every two years just to remind myself why I don't need to go to Branson.  Cliff and I agreed today we'd have been much better off staying at the Hub and taking a scenic ride to Eureka Springs.  
My big sixty-sixth birthday celebration officially ended this morning with my free Grand Slam breakfast at Denny's.  Cliff's wallet is lighter and our bodies are heavier, but it's been fun.  And I'm up for another motorcycle road trip any time Cliff shakes the keys at me.