Music Night

The first date Ricky and I ever had ended up at the “happeningest” place in Minnow Creek – the Davis Home.  This was a safe haven for teenagers and parents never worried about what their kids were doing if that is where they were.  There was always something going on, an invitation was not needed and all who visited were made to feel important.  I’ve heard Don tell that come midnight he would announce “I’m going to bed.  Ya’ll turn out the lights when you leave.”  Just one of the many ways that they made us feel like family.

Thirty years later Don and Lou Nell are still opening their doors to others with a smile and a hug.  But some things have changed with time.  Instead of circling to watch a marathon of table tennis in the basement we are now sitting in a double ringed circle of sorts in the living room having a marathon music sing-off. 

 Who needs a karaoke machine.  Over the years we’ve been accompanied by the best playing tunes on their guitars, ukulele, tambourine, flute and fiddle.

(Jon Conley - band member for Kenny Chesney)

 It’s a form of Name That Tune in reverse – if we know the name we just Google the lyrics. 

 And if the guys strumming don’t know the song you’re singing just give them a line or two and they will soon be faking it. 

(On the guitar - Cole Bruce, Danny Davis & Jake Davis)

 Sometimes our rendition veers off the path from how the original artist recorded it but it’s beautiful, just the same.

(The girls singing "Taylor the Latte Boy".  Robert eating ice cream.)

Many of the participants in our sing-offs have had their moments on stage, singing and performing with big names in the music industry.  And the next generation has proved to be just as talented. 

(Emmy Davis and Savannah Conley sharing songs.)

But it’s easy to see that one of their favorite places to perform is in front of the rock hearth in a log home near the banks of Minnow Creek.

This year’s “Music Night” was a little different.  Don gave us a talkin' to about how we should all love each other.

And then he  and Lou Nell taught us the night's theme song:

"Just a little lovin' will go a long way
And you'll make me happy the rest of my days
Put your arms around me then I'll be your slave
'Cause just a little lovin' will go a long way.”

Since that first date night 30 years ago, I’ve spent many hours wrapped in the love that flows so freely from this family.   Ricky and I don’t have our parents with us anymore and this dear couple has filled the void so beautifully.  They’ve also passed this trait of hospitality on to their children.  Their girls have opened their homes to our oldest who is living in the Nashville area, helping to shorten the distance between the Music City and Minnow Creek (the place we now call home too), proving just how far a little bit of lovin’ actually can go.

Through this family we have seen examples of Godly living while living life to its fullest.  

We’ve also seen how music spans the generation gap

 allowing the young and the … not so young to share a passion that comes from the soul and joins together in sweet harmony.  And a little bit of that can go a long way.