Brenham Bluebonnet Opry Day Trip - January 21, 2010
by Sylvia Slanina
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Seated (left to right): Jewel Welch, Annie Malam, Marian Gruber, Patsy Seay, Pat
Riccardello, Delores Amante, Louis Riccardello, Mary Lee Cameron, Howard Cameron, Louise
Figueiredo, Carlene Chaney
Standing (left to right): Sylvia Slanina, Daren Welch, Charlie Slanina, Bob Gruber, Tony
Amante, James Wade, Dorothy Wade, Lucy Salas, Jim Mazurkiewickz, Margaret Slanina, Marie
Kucera, Vivian Watkins, Estella Garcia, Ralph Garcia
On a nice sunny day, 25 TI Retirees and guests headed to Brenham. Our first stop was Buc-ee’s in Cypress to pick up
a couple of TIRET’s and take a rest break. After enjoying the ride and the view of our beautiful country, we arrived
at Purcell’s Country Style Buffet. Along with the excellent service and a variety of good tasting home cooking and
desserts, no one can say we left hungry
Our next stop was to the Silver Wings Ballroom to see the “Friends of the Bluebonnet Opry”, a non-profit
organization that sponsors the Brazos Valley Hospice organization, that I must add, was there for my Mom and my
family.
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Allison Crowson Collins, the original founder of the Opry in 1998, was there to entertain us along with Earl Epps and
Jack Carr. A variety of music, from western swing, polka, waltz, country and western to classic, was enjoyed by all.
John Dujka, known as the ‘Professor’ because he teaches music at Blinn College and is very well known throughout
the Texas Opry network, showed off his talents playing different instruments, including the accordion.
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As in many small town opry’s, they give door prizes. Dorothy Wade won dinner- for-2 in Brenham and was generous
and gave it to a local visitor of the opry. Vivian Watkins won a Wal-Mart eco-friendly bag with candy and car
shamu. She shared that, too.
A box of Girl Scout Cookies was won by Carlene Chaney, Tony Amante, Daren Welch, Dorothy Wade, Delores
Amante and James Wade.
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