A Cultured Evening with the Rays

It was a typical Friday night in January. The Ray Family was together at a family event, but with a slight twist. It was, indeed, a sight to behold. Yes, ladies and gentlemen, we went to the "Toughest Monter Truck" Tour in Southaven, Mississippi.

Along with thousands of other fans, we were serenaded by the likes of a wide range of musical stylings including, Van Halen's Panama and Hot for Teacher, The Who, Neil Diamond, Metallica's Enter Sandman, Queen, Motley Crue, AC/DC and  The Black Eyed Peas (because what's a party withouth Boom Boom Boom?) Even Will Smith's Gettin' Jiggy Wit It and Humpty Hump's The Humpty Dance entertained us.

But as eclectic as it was, the music wasn't really the hightlight of the evening -- though it did provide an excellent soundtrack. Oh no, the most cultured part of our night was the people watching. It seems watching monster trucks transcends all racial and economic boundaries. Young, old, black, white, rich, poor, all kinds of people like to watch the Monster Truck mayhem in an indoor arena. But there were several scenes to add to the culture of the evening. Allow me to elaborate:

Date Night: we saw many a couple, teenagers and young couples in their 20s enjoying a romantic evening out watching $150,000 trucks smashing junker cars and doing wheelies. Yes, nothing says "I love you so much" than two tickets to see who is the "toughest monster truck."

Trip to the Big City: I, too, was this when I was a child. I lived in a small town, with the closest big city being Memphis. We saw lots of wide-eyed little boys and girls seeing

Tattoos and Tank Tops: even though it was January, the ladies pulled out their good tank tops to show off the guns.... literally. A few seats down from us was a woman showing us her tattoo... a beautiful masterpiece featuring two Colt 45 revolvers positioned over a pair of wings. Yes, guns and angel wings. Even the masters couldn't haven't painted a piece so lovely.

Camo, camo everywhere: Fans broke out their best camo attire- fleece jackets, pants, sweatshirts and hats-- with no deer or waterfowl in sight to shoot.

Family Fun Night: this was the majority of the fans in attendance at the Landers Center, including the Rays.

In all, it was a great event for the entire family (we just happened to leave Zane at home, given the extremely loud noise.) And sure, I have poked fun at some folks, but even I enjoyed myself. I was in awe when Stinger rolled over some junk cars and even when he tipped over and they had to bring the Cat out turn him right side up. I loved it when Shell-Camino (the evening's only female driver) turned over and emerged from the truck unharmed. And I screamed with glee when a 6'3" motocross quad rider did a full back flip across the arena floor. Up the ramp, across the floor, a complete back flip with the four wheeler, then landed safely on the other side.

It was not Masterpiece Theater, but is was as entertaining a night as I've had in a while.