Post by bernard on Sept 19, 2008 2:28:07 GMT -5
www.winchesterstar.com/showarticle_new.php?sID=9&foldername=20080919&file=sad%20sassy_article.html
Winchester —Two Patsy Cline fans traveled halfway across the globe recently to visit the hometown of the legendary singer.
Janet Pietsch and Linda Pegler of Miduna, Victoria, Australia, have been fans for more than 20 years and have planned the trip for 15.
They landed at Washington Dulles International Airport six weeks ago and drove directly to Winchester to soak up as much Patsy time as they could.
A highlight of the beginning of the visit was seeing the Wayside Theatre’s production of “Always . . . Patsy.”
Janet found information about the play on the Internet before they began the Patsy pilgrimage, but was told the show was sold out at the time they would be in the area.
That didn’t stop her. She contacted the sponsor of one of the shows, Q102 Radio, and they were invited to be special guests.
They found the musical so enjoyable they were still quoting material from it weeks later.
Now at the end of their journey — they leave Monday — the duo returned Tuesday for just a little more Patsy time.
“We needed to come back,” Janet said.
A stop at the 608 S. Kent St. home of the singer, who died in a plane crash in 1963, was part of the tour led by Celebrating Patsy Cline’s president, Judy Sue Huyett-Kempf, whom they met at the Wayside production.
She conducts the tours by request for visitors and on this day was making the most of the empty house which will be rented soon.
The enthusiasm of the visitors did not surprise Judy Sue.
“Most Patsy fans are like this,” she said. “Most have a great deal of energy, but these ladies have gone beyond.”
It was Linda’s first trip outside Australia, but Janet has traveled to most continents and had visited the United States.
But entering the small wooden frame house caused them both to squeal with joy.
“I can’t believe we are in the house where Patsy lived,” Janet said. “It is unbelievable.”
The two avid fans call each other “Pats” because of their admiration of the award-winning singer.
“Some people think that’s our names,” Linda said.
But it is a nickname reserved only for the two of them. Janet said they are offended when others call them that. “She’s my Pats.”
For them, the attraction of Patsy’s music is the sentiment behind the songs.
“They are sad but sassy,” Linda said. “I also liked the way she dressed — buxom and gorgeous.”
While they said they don’t like country music, Patsy’s voice and songs called to them.
“It is music about life,” Janet said. “Stories you can relate to.”
When they bought CDs years ago, they would play them so others could also enjoy them in the small town they compare to the size of Winchester.
“We’d sing along going to visit our daughters in college,” Janet said.
“We’d blast it in the car and roll the windows down,” Linda added.
They also call each other “best mates” and met at work — Janet, 52, a high school principal and Linda, 53, a high school technical assistant.
They decided to make the pilgrimage now with the blessing of their families and while they are still healthy and up for the challenge — especially since they rented a car and had to drive not only sitting on the opposite side of the car, but also steering on the side of the road alien to their country.
Janet did the driving while Linda navigated after they picked up the car at Union Station and had to drive through Washington.
“I just pointed the car and kept driving,” Janet said.
In addition, she said, the indicator (signal) lights were not where she expected them to be and she kept turning on the wiper blades instead.
“It was a bit of a hoot,” Janet added, and worries if it will seem strange to drive on the left side of the road again when she returns home.
Originally, they had planned to travel south and made it as far as Tennessee. Once they headed toward Mississippi, hurricanes were threatening, so they changed their itinerary.
“We drove through 24 states in a figure-eight pattern — from D.C. to Tennessee, including Niagara Falls and Maine,” Linda said.
“We even swam in the Atlantic Ocean,” added Janet.
They found the complaints about “petrol” amusing since their country has much higher gasoline prices than the United States.
They are used to paying about $1.65 a liter (a gallon contains about 3.8 liters).
“We’ve laughed about the complaints about gas,” Janet said, explaining that the rental car they used, a General Motors sedan, cost about $40 to fill up here, but would require about $80 in Australia.
They said their weeks in the states have been a wonderful experience.
“Everyone has been really, really helpful and friendly,” Linda said.
While visiting Winchester, they learned so much more about Patsy Cline’s early years and personal information, Linda said. “It is the trip of a lifetime.”
They aren’t sure they will come back, but Janet expressed the feelings of both of them. “We hope so.”
Winchester —Two Patsy Cline fans traveled halfway across the globe recently to visit the hometown of the legendary singer.
Janet Pietsch and Linda Pegler of Miduna, Victoria, Australia, have been fans for more than 20 years and have planned the trip for 15.
They landed at Washington Dulles International Airport six weeks ago and drove directly to Winchester to soak up as much Patsy time as they could.
A highlight of the beginning of the visit was seeing the Wayside Theatre’s production of “Always . . . Patsy.”
Janet found information about the play on the Internet before they began the Patsy pilgrimage, but was told the show was sold out at the time they would be in the area.
That didn’t stop her. She contacted the sponsor of one of the shows, Q102 Radio, and they were invited to be special guests.
They found the musical so enjoyable they were still quoting material from it weeks later.
Now at the end of their journey — they leave Monday — the duo returned Tuesday for just a little more Patsy time.
“We needed to come back,” Janet said.
A stop at the 608 S. Kent St. home of the singer, who died in a plane crash in 1963, was part of the tour led by Celebrating Patsy Cline’s president, Judy Sue Huyett-Kempf, whom they met at the Wayside production.
She conducts the tours by request for visitors and on this day was making the most of the empty house which will be rented soon.
The enthusiasm of the visitors did not surprise Judy Sue.
“Most Patsy fans are like this,” she said. “Most have a great deal of energy, but these ladies have gone beyond.”
It was Linda’s first trip outside Australia, but Janet has traveled to most continents and had visited the United States.
But entering the small wooden frame house caused them both to squeal with joy.
“I can’t believe we are in the house where Patsy lived,” Janet said. “It is unbelievable.”
The two avid fans call each other “Pats” because of their admiration of the award-winning singer.
“Some people think that’s our names,” Linda said.
But it is a nickname reserved only for the two of them. Janet said they are offended when others call them that. “She’s my Pats.”
For them, the attraction of Patsy’s music is the sentiment behind the songs.
“They are sad but sassy,” Linda said. “I also liked the way she dressed — buxom and gorgeous.”
While they said they don’t like country music, Patsy’s voice and songs called to them.
“It is music about life,” Janet said. “Stories you can relate to.”
When they bought CDs years ago, they would play them so others could also enjoy them in the small town they compare to the size of Winchester.
“We’d sing along going to visit our daughters in college,” Janet said.
“We’d blast it in the car and roll the windows down,” Linda added.
They also call each other “best mates” and met at work — Janet, 52, a high school principal and Linda, 53, a high school technical assistant.
They decided to make the pilgrimage now with the blessing of their families and while they are still healthy and up for the challenge — especially since they rented a car and had to drive not only sitting on the opposite side of the car, but also steering on the side of the road alien to their country.
Janet did the driving while Linda navigated after they picked up the car at Union Station and had to drive through Washington.
“I just pointed the car and kept driving,” Janet said.
In addition, she said, the indicator (signal) lights were not where she expected them to be and she kept turning on the wiper blades instead.
“It was a bit of a hoot,” Janet added, and worries if it will seem strange to drive on the left side of the road again when she returns home.
Originally, they had planned to travel south and made it as far as Tennessee. Once they headed toward Mississippi, hurricanes were threatening, so they changed their itinerary.
“We drove through 24 states in a figure-eight pattern — from D.C. to Tennessee, including Niagara Falls and Maine,” Linda said.
“We even swam in the Atlantic Ocean,” added Janet.
They found the complaints about “petrol” amusing since their country has much higher gasoline prices than the United States.
They are used to paying about $1.65 a liter (a gallon contains about 3.8 liters).
“We’ve laughed about the complaints about gas,” Janet said, explaining that the rental car they used, a General Motors sedan, cost about $40 to fill up here, but would require about $80 in Australia.
They said their weeks in the states have been a wonderful experience.
“Everyone has been really, really helpful and friendly,” Linda said.
While visiting Winchester, they learned so much more about Patsy Cline’s early years and personal information, Linda said. “It is the trip of a lifetime.”
They aren’t sure they will come back, but Janet expressed the feelings of both of them. “We hope so.”