A genuine gesture from a genuine person

It was July 17, 1994, when Willie Nelson put on a fantastic concert in a hayfield in the Cocolalla Valley. A construction team set up the stage with giant speakers and Willie put on an incredible performance that thrilled all of us on that perfect summer evening.

After the concert, I stood in line at Willie’s bus, hoping to see him and maybe get an autograph. A young boy was in front of me, and we all cheered when Willie’s bus door opened and he came down the steps. He visited and signed programs and when it came time for the boy in front of me to get his signature, Willie asked him what he would like. The boy was wearing a bill cap and he took it off and he asked Willie if he would sign his hat. Willie chuckled, took off his own hat, and said, “How about I sign my hat and we trade hats?” The boy was in wonderful disbelief as Willie traded hats. A genuine gesture, from a genuine person. It’s been 30 years ago and I wonder if that young boy, who is a middle-aged man now, still has that hat.

STEVE JOHNSON

Sagle