We all have our morning routines. For me, one of the many things I do, before I shower and get going for the day, is checking Facebook's "Memories". Facebook likes to remind me about those anytime a certain day has a lot of them... and today, it reminded me of an event 3 years ago I, and many family members, had prepared for. The Day The Cowboy, my Uncle Glenn, Rode Away. Otherwise known as the day cancer finally killed my Uncle Glenn.

Memories Last Forever

While crusty-eyed and half awake this morning, sitting in my chair... trying to come back to reality while reading through the memories, this came up from 3 years ago.

Credit: Josh Rath, TSM
Credit: Josh Rath, TSM
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And that post instantly threw me back 3 years in time. A time when people were worried about COVID, and doing what they could to prevent it. And, a time when I had no idea what was coming in the next few days... but that, is a story for another time.

Credit: Josh Rath - The Montana River Band at BoJangles Nite Club in 2013
Credit: Josh Rath - The Montana River Band at BoJangles Nite Club in 2013
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That day I drove from Billings to Miles City, trying my hardest to skip past any songs that might remind me of my Uncle Glenn. Though, as usual with my luck and the shuffle feature... my iPhone still managed to get me to cry on the drive there with one song.

And, what do you know? Hearing that all these years later still causes me to shed a tear. But the memories remain. The great times at the nightclub, running the show together with all the awesome people who came and partied the night away.

Credit: Josh Rath, TSM - We setup a "Dance Cam" to surprise dancers on our 10' Big Screen. It worked.
Credit: Josh Rath, TSM - We setup a "Dance Cam" to surprise dancers on our 10' Big Screen. It worked. See the face in the middle, shocked, at her own dance skills!
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Credit: Josh Rath, TSM - This had to be a Wednesday night, and we were all VERY bored.
Credit: Josh Rath, TSM - This had to be a Wednesday night, and we were all VERY bored.
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Not to mention the memories of being a kid, going to visit him at one of his many business adventures... and always being extremely excited to see ol' Uncle Glenn.

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But 3 years later, I wish I could call him up quite a bit... sharing the stories of who I met working in this cool radio career... what he's been up to over in Miles City with the band... memories.

Credit: Josh Rath, TSM - One of my last photos from BoJangles in Miles City.
Credit: Josh Rath, TSM - One of my last photos from BoJangles in Miles City.
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I leave you with this... two "master" recordings of my Uncle Glenn. Up first? Big City. By Merle Haggard. Or, as Glenn always said... "Hey! Ol' Merle Haggard Staggard!"

And, finally... the song that always hits me the hardest. The Cowboy Rides Away.

Love ya, Uncle Glenn.

Credit: Glenn Shores
Credit: Glenn Shores
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