I'm going to begin 2006 at a quick look back at the final two concerts I attended in 2005 - and along the way, we'll talk about the perils of air travel.

Friday, December 30, found me at the Georgia Mountain Center in Gainesville, GA, for T&T Promotions' annual New Year's event. A sold-out crowd of about 2700 people gathered in the North Georgia city to hear the Inspirations, the Primitive Quartet, the McKameys and the Singing Cookes. Just as last year's event, there was not an empty seat to be found and based on conversations I have with various audience members, more states were represented than just Georgia. I talked with people who had converged in Gainesville from the states of South Carolina, North Carolina, Florida, Tennessee, Alabama, Louisana, Pennsylvania and West Virginia.

After the concert, my family and I headed southwest to Atlanta (about 50 miles from Gainesville) to catch an early Saturday morning non-stop flight to Baltimore, MD. Once we arrived in Baltimore, we'd drive about two hours to Lancaster, PA, for one of Garden Spot Promotions' annual New Years banquet concerts.

Garden Spot's Twila Rohrer actually promoted two concerts this night - one at Yoders Restaurant and the other - where I was at - at the Shady Maple Restaurant. Those of you who faithfully keep up with Singing News will recognize that restaurant as one of Jerry Kirksey's all-time favorites. Both events were sold out - and that's not bad at all when you consider that the tickets were $43.00 each. Naturally, that included a meal and the performances of three groups.

Back to Baltimore for a moment. Have you ever been standing in the baggage claim, watching the bags go around and around - and never seeing your luggage make the journey?

When I checked with the luggage office, I was told it might be in on the next flight. So I waited.

Nothing.

By this time, we had no choice but to head on to Lancaster. I had the notion that we might stop and buy clothes along the way, but it seems as though many stores opted to close early on New Year's Eve. Imagine that....

Not only have I not seen my luggage since I checked it in on Saturday morning, NO ONE with the airline can even begin to tell me where it is...or was...or where it might be. Nor will anyone even attempt to make a guess at it.

Long story short, I was the master of ceremonies at a very nice banquet and I wore blue jeans, a hooded sweatshirt and my favorite pair of tennis shoes. Christina and Gregory (my family) were dressed equally nicely as me.

On the program were the Old Time Gospel Hour Quartet, the Anchormen and the Hoppers. Claude offered to take me shopping as long as I held the cost down to $10.00 - and he even offered to pay half. But I gently reminded the aging singer that the stores were closed.

After we got the program off and running, Jason Funderburk of the Anchormen loaned me a few clothes to get me through the evening. Now, Jason and I are close to the same size - but not exactly the same size - and that led to a few interesting moments. I did have to stuff tissue in the ends of his shoes to keep them from slipping off. It also appears that Jason has longer legs than I do, so I kept stepping on the ends of the trousers.

It was either that or pull them up way beyond my waistline. If I had done that, I would have looked like an old man. Hmmm...maybe Claude?

Nevertheless, the rest of the evening was just fine. So, thanks, Jason, for your kindness and generosity.

Despite the luggage hangup, the weekend was a good one. I was very happy to see two of Southern Gospel Music's leading promoters have sold-out crowds and see the artists be well-received by the audiences. I've heard a few other reports that seem to indicate concert crowds this weekend were, overall, very good.

So let's all pray that 2006 continues with the same success that concluded 2005. Southern Gospel promoters need a good year and maybe the momentum from this past weekend will just continue on.

And, hey, who knows? Someone might even find my luggage.