Here’s hoping that everybody had a relaxing Thanksgiving and a hectic Black Friday as I did. I’ll explain.

Wednesday, Nov. 26, I was blessed to share a Thanksgiving message at the AC nursing home/assisted living and share a Thanksgiving lunch with my brother, Stanley. Then, I drove to Kansas City to enjoy a quiet evening with my daughter, Kam, and husband, Kevin, and enjoyed the best pizza I’ve ever had. Then, on Thanksgiving, Kam, who every day works in the kitchen as a pastry chef at Andre’s, ordered a complete Thanksgiving meal from the Hy-Vee grocery store. Pretty relaxing.

Spent the morning watching the Thanksgiving parade, then a little traditional football/Chiefs. Then, drove to St. Louis, Friday, Nov. 28, and journeyed to Nashville to attend the 100th anniversary of the Grand Old Opry. I couldn’t understand why they would host this event the day after Thanksgiving, and on Black Friday. The traffic was horrendous.

However, I found out that it actually started on this very day, Nov. 28, 1925. There were two performances, one at 7 p.m. and another at 10 p.m., with 30 performers at each one. I got tickets to the 10 o’clock, which didn’t start till 11 o’clock and didn’t get out until 2 a.m. But for me, it was a bucket list, because I exercise on the treadmill on the endless pool at the fitness center and for an hour each day listening to old-time country music.

They were able to give a 100-year history with members of the Grand Old Opry bringing to life all of the past singers/music such as gospel, bluegrass and how it all began with front porch violin/mandolin/banjo/harmonica/guitar. I am now recovering at my daughter Jada and Mark’s and my two grandchildren, Gage, 16, and Mara, 14. Already, we have done church and watched her play club volleyball, watch the first movie of “Wicked,” and last night as a family, attended a 3-D movie of “Wicked For Good.” Now, it’s on to a relaxing Christmas season.