We were rockin' with The Judds Sunday night

One of the positive facets of being retired is choosing activities on a whim.

Friday afternoon, my dearest of 20 years left a card on the countertop declaring, "Happy Birthday." Since that day is still some weeks away, I questioned his lucidity, but indeed, he intended to give me the card.

Inside, there was a note announcing we had tickets to Sunday's "Judds, the Final Encore" tour in Moline, Ill.!!! 

Sunday, we drove to the iWireless center in the Quad Cities on the banks of the majestic Mississippi River to catch the three-hour show of those two outspoken, harmonizing redheads. 

Dressed in a comfortable bell-bottomed black Lycra Spandex top and slacks which accentuated her recent weight loss, Wy topped it off with a cutaway below the hip length sparkling sequin jacket. Glitter shimmered from her hair and face.

Although Wynonna stumbled several times remembering the words to her older songs, she recovered well, claiming to be distracted by a handsome man at the front of the stage. Mama Naomi actually handed over the microphone to the man who did remember the lyrics and had an impressive voice to boot. This seemed to distract Wynonna even further. In fact, she later teased, 'why don't you just go sit down and listen? God gave you two ears and one mouth!'

Wy's characteristic lip curl was as evident as ever as she sang Elvis Presley's, "Burnin' Love." And daughter teased her mother, who preferred hand-holding with fans over standing at her daughter's side providing harmony. When a shout from the crowd proclaimed, "I want your autograph!" Wy suggested the fan stop by Naomi's bus after the concert, adding, "We've got a concert to do, right now." And Naomi invited, "I'll make you a little snack."

Wynonna's wit was met with laughter and applause when she explained, "While mama's away, daughter will play," and Naomi changed into yet another of her gorgeous sequined dresses. (Mama had no less than four costume changes.) In the meantime, Wy wowed the audience with the rockin' "No One Else on Earth." Later, with a stained glass window backdrop, she sang "How Great Thou Art," to a hushed audience hanging on every word performed with a four-man gospel back-up.

The Judds closed with "Love Can Build a Bridge," but then returned for a 3-song encore that included, "Ave Maria," and "Silent Night."