This is a unique Soap Box, because it’s a story of me not even trying to do what a listener, and radio cousin asked me to do, and that ain’t like me at all, but listen. Friday night, I MCed a Willie Nelson concert. This was the 3rd Willie show I’ve been on stage for in the last several weeks. In all those shows, I’ve been able to stand next to Willie, and smile for a quick picture one time. I was with him, maybe 5 seconds. Then at another show he walked by me as he was walking out on stage, and I said “Evenin’, Willie!” and he turned around, smiled and said “Hi”. Those two events are the grand total of my Willie exposure while MCing three separate shows. Last Thursday night, Willie was in the Carolina’s, and his tour ran afoul of the law (for marijuana…go figure), and he canceled that show. So, Friday, he wasn’t having squat to do with anybody. Everyone backstage knew that Willie was still in a bad mood. I was talkin’ with his son and opening act, Lukas before the show started. Very nice & talented kid. 21 years old, and so darned good on stage. He filled me in on the previous night’s happenings. It was very obvious, and for that matter understandable that Willie was in no mood for anything else other than show & go. Kevin Daniels and I took the stage, and made some announcements, and introed Lukas, Then back on stage between sets to get the crowd ready for Willie. Willie came on, Lukas stayed on stage and played the entire set with his dad, and it was over. Really good show. I think everybody got their money’s worth. All the players went directly to the busses, not to be seen again . I was there with Mary Beth & three other friends. We walked out the back door by the busses into the wind, cold, and rain. A lady there stopped me. She was holding a red bandana that she told me had been signed by Willie at a show in ’01. She wanted me to get Willie to sign it for her again that night. I told her that I had no way to get that done for her. She told me that she knew I did, and insisted that I get it done for her. I told her Willie wasn’t going to come out and do anything for anyone, and that I was sorry but “No” I couldn’t do it. Well, nothing was gonna make her happy other than I take that bandana, or I think better yet, take her and that bandana on the bus, and have Willie sign it for her. “Maam, I’m sorry, but I can’t make it happen.” “Yes, you can!” “No, I can not. I’m sorry.” “I know you can!!” It was cold, & windy, it was raining, temperatures were falling, a freeze was predicted, I was an hour from home, the folks I was with (including my wife) were standing by my vehicle in the rain, & I had the keys in my pocket. And this woman would not let me go. Finally I said, “Maam, I don’t care if you get that signed or not.” She looked stunned, and said, “You don’t care? You don’t CARE?’ “Maam, please!!” “I will quote you. You don’t care” “Maam, I’m sorry.” “I will quote you. You don’t care.” I turned and walked away. At that time, in that situation, I really couldn’t have cared less. I could still hear her raising the devil as I walked away and got my friends and family out of the terrible weather. So, in case that woman is going through this day quoting that rude Moby from Friday night after the Willie Nelson show, & and telling anyone that will listen how rude I was to not get her bandana autographed for her, at least you know the entire story. And in case that woman might be listening right now, maam, we went through the back door of the bus, and partied with Willie for hours. Really we didn’t, but that lady seemed to think that was what I was gonna do. I do hope you got home safely, maam.