April 2006

Hello Everyone,

I know that you all want to know about China. It went Great! Me, Johnny Western and the Prairie Rose Wranglers were the first performers invited to sing on the Great Wall Of China. I think that was the highlight of the trip.

Deanna and I began in San Francisco with a show there. Really it was a dress rehearsal for the China concerts. Along with the cast were 50 students from Wichita. They sang one song with me as well as the closing. “I Cowboyed Up” for the shows. I wore my Dad’s last flash coat for the beginning of the show and changed to a Western Jacket for the second half.

Monday we were all off to China. For someone 6’2” riding 12 hours in those seats was not fun! Deanna slept most of the way. Me……..well I was awake! Excited I guess. The first day in Beijing was for sightseeing. The tour company took us to all the Emperors Palaces and Gardens. It was the first time I had ever been to an Eastern Culture. There is a big difference in East and West. The food is different too! Deanna and I lost weight on the trip. They eat more vegetables than we do and very little beef. But, Peking Duck was wonderful!

Day twp was the Great Wall of China. We all performed in two different locations. But the one on the wall was the highlight. It is something that I will take with me the rest of my life. I sang “I Love You Arizona” on the Wall. The show that night was sold out and televised on China TV. The kids wanted McDonalds and guess what………they got them!

Then it was off to Xian. Deanna and I celebrated or 16^th Anniversary there. We had a wonderful evening in a five star hotel. That was the highlight for me…………….but we did see the terra cotta statues too! Pretty amazing.

The last stop on the trip was Shanghai. There are almost 22 million people that live and work in the city. You could take New York and drop it in the center of the city and not even notice it! It is the most amazing city I have ever been to in my life. Lots of people yes, but everybody working hard. Xian is considered “Old China“, Beijing , “Present China” and Shanghai “The Future of China”. The 4^th tallest building in the world is there. Very modern, but still retains the charm of the old world. We went to the silk factory, the river and the Jade Market. Oh yeah, we had a sold out show there too!

China has agreed to release my music in China. Who knows maybe I can be a star there!!!

Deanna started a new project here in Vegas. She is so good at what she does. Wade is working. Wyatt is pitching, Marc is working and Cody and Logan graduate from High School next month. Can you believe that? Cody is going to ASU in Phoenix and Logan is going to UT in Knoxville.

Busy time in our life. Keep cool and I’ll see you this summer.

Rex

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