1st Day Winchester, Va

I decided to take our trip day by day as we were gone for a week and did so much in that time that there is no way that I can cover it all in one blog entry so everyday I will do a city and maybe I can cover everything. Needless to say we had a marvelous time and saw so much. I can say I have never been so tired in all my life and was so glad to get home, but now that I have rested for 3 days I can say it was really worth it.

The photo above is taken just over the state line from Winchester, Va in West Virginia. I was standing on the stage where Patsy Cline started her career at a little road house named Rainbow Road. If you have seen the movie Sweet Dreams, the scenes relating to this were actually filmed here.It was very surreal to be there. When I was young I thought I was the reincarnation of Patsy Cline. Then I grew up and realized that was impossible as we were alive at the same time but boy have I had a connection with her my whole life. I was singing Patsy Cline songs at a festival in Boise Idaho once and noticed a old man in a wheel chair right at the base of the stage. He cried the whole time I sang. After I finished I went down to talk to him thinking that the songs must have reminded him of his wife who had passed away or something. When I started talking to him, it turned out that he was an old studio musician from Nashville that had played steel guitar on some of Patsy's 4 Star recordings back before she went to Decca Records and really got famous. He said , "It was just like she was here and I was listening to her sing again." I was so flattered. I had his card for a long time but somehow lost it along the way and I can't even remember his name. Shame I never got to work with him, We planned on it but it just never happened.
This is the house Patsy grew up in at 608 S. Kent Street in Winchester, VA
Cliff and I on the porch of Patsy's childhood home. He was so sweet to drive over so I could see all the Patsy stuff. It was about 80 miles out of our way, but he never batted an eye just took me there and let me spend all the time I wanted. We also drove by the studeo where she made her first early recordings and the Drug Store she worked at as a kid
Me and my baby at Rainbow Road, just imagine, Patsy Cline and Charlie Dick probably walked on this very spot talk about hallowed ground, baby this is it, Ground Zero of the Cline.
Patsy's grave, As you can see people visit and leave her little momentos. Mostly change or there was a small red heart. I thought about it for awhile cause I wanted to leave her something and finally knew it had to be my favorite pink lipstick. I really looks good with a summer tan and she was dark complected so I know she will love it. Plus it doesnt rub off much on your microphone cause it sticks to your lips when it dries. You go girl, sing that song in heaven!
Me and my girl
Marker outside Patsy's childhood home
Me on the porch of Patsy's house

I really loved visiting Winchester and the surrounding area. It was really a special thing to me. I was in Nashville once and got to stand in the circle on the stage of the Ryman Auditorium. This was right up there with that.