Just go out there and love ’em, and they’ll love you right back.  

     – Judge Hay to Minnie Pearl, just before her Opry debut

This week I visited the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville with some wonderful friends from Wellesley. The image that struck me most was one of Minnie Pearl, hand to her face, sobbing on stage. It was the last time that the Grand Ole Opry performed in the Ryman in 1974, before the building closed up in disrepair.  On that night, it was said, “it seemed like a normal night until Minnie started crying.”

Minnie performed with the Opry for over 50 years, and the advice above seems to have stayed with her all of that time, as she often signed off her performances with, “I love you so much it hurts.” On that final evening at the Ryman, Minnie recalled Judge Hay’s words, concluding, “and I do love ya.” A rare standing ovation ensued, and surely there was not a dry eye in the house.

Dear Honeybees, let’s listen to Judge Hay and Minnie Pearl.

Let’s just go out there and love ’em.

Let’s love ’em so much it hurts.

P.S. Did you see our big news this week?  Read here for details!

Photo via Historic Nashville website