Just listening

While camping at the Bouse Community Park campground in Arizona, I heard live country music across the way and strolled over from my fifth-wheel to investigate. About 15 people were listening, and occasionally singing along, to amateur musicians playing guitar, fiddle and violin. I sat down. As I listened, I noticed several of the women glancing at me.

After a while, during a break, one of the guitar players acknowledged me and invited me to introduce myself. I did, mentioning that my wife and I were staying in the nearby campground. A short silence ensued. The guitar player then informed me that I had joined a gathering of the Desert Singles from Quartzsite. Happily married and steadfastly faithful, I apologized and got up to leave, but he motioned for me to sit back down. “Everyone’s welcome here,” he said. “Got a favorite number you’d like to hear?” I requested “Home on the Range,” which the group then played.

The rendition was great, although the women no longer glanced my way.