Wy? Cuz.

We went and saw Wynonna Judd right before we left for a family reunion, of sorts, in Vegas. I have followed Wy since she was singin' with momma. And I became a rabid fan when she went solo. I have all her 'albums' (cuz I'm old) and love them all. Even the Jesus-y ones.

I'm embarrassed to admit that, when she asked who hadn't seen her live, I was one of the hands raised. I don't know why I hadn't. I just figured a big ol' lezzy in the middle of ten gallon hats and platter sized belt buckles might make me itchy that there was a lynchin' bout to happen. But after seeing the amount of 'family' in the audience, I shouldn't have worried.

My secret lust is Wy is one of us. I mean, come on....the guys she picks? Her horrible luck in love? The motorcycles? The rockin' guitar licks? Her affinity to Elvis? Her one attempt to get on an Olivia Cruise to perform? (thanks Christian, conservative fan base for screwing THAT up!)

I gotta say, if you were to line up the columns for probabilities, she would race to the top.

As soon as she stepped on the stage...her presence, her beauty, her wink and crooked grin....sigh....I was in LOVE!!! I mean I love her....I've always loved her. But holy crap! Her swagger and strut on stage and that voice? My heart melted into my panties!

I was deep in a lustful state of lustiness when she dusted off one of her top tens: She is His Only Need.

There I was, at a table, in a showroom in an Indian casino, at a table with six strangers, bawling my eyes out. I can't tell you how many times I've heard that song. It's from her first album, so it's played a lot over the years. And while it would often cause a lump in my throat, this time...this time it was the life of my dad put to music.

There was nowhere in the song to pull out. Every turn of phrase pulled at my heart. Every image her throaty growl produced, took me to a picture in my family album. So I let the tears flow. I let the sadness wrap around me. I did the one thing everyone hates: cried my eyes blind in public.

I never know where my dad will pop up these days. I will say it's always unexpected and there are just never enough kleenex around.