'Texas' timeless tale for all

It had been awhile since we'd all been to "Texas" and a recent trip to Palo Duro Canyon didn't disappoint.

We had great weather, if anything it was a little too hot in the amphitheater with its cozy, close-together seating and the trip was relaxing.

My wife and I went to see the West Texas musical not long after we were married 30 years ago. The basic story of the struggle to settle the dusty, thorn-covered terrain of the Texas Panhandle was unchanged but the technical capabilities of the show and the talent of the cast has greatly increased.

I'm a sucker for a history lesson even if it's one about our boastful neighbors to the east. But when you can get that lesson complete with live horses, gunfire, petticoated dancers and pyrotechnics then you have a real show.

Even real cowboys who wouldn't be caught dead at a musical can rest easy. This stuff is fun and timeless. The simple humor will keep you grinning even if, for some strange reason, the tunes don't get your toes tapping.

My wife and I had talked about going back to "Texas" since we moved back to the area in 2005 but for some reason or another we never seemed to have the time — rather we never made the time.

When a set of tickets popped up in the list of items up for auction in the KENW-TV online auction this spring I decided I would buy them at the best price possible and leave myself no room for excuses. It all worked out and I got a good price on the tickets and KENW-TV got a little of my cash.

Putting aside the nagging feeling that somehow the amphitheater was facing the opposite direction from what I remembered, there were lots of things that were familiar. The lone rider on the rim started the show as always and the drought and prairie fires finally gave way to a good old-fashioned toad-strangler of a rainstorm. Just as it is in real life with our weather on the High Plains.

The things that were new included a fantastic salute to America and our armed forces. Who knew the show would end with a great lighted water fountain show and fireworks that would rival Las Vegas.

I've never wanted to sing "America The Beautiful" so bad and had so much trouble choking the words out through the emotion.

Man, that is good for the heart!

I'm writing a note to myself tonight not to wait another 30 years before I go back.

Karl Terry writes for Clovis Media Inc. Contact him at: [email protected]