“Merle surprised us with his gun the morning that he tried to shoot that crow, but he was really mad at that fish that he didn’t like, and it surprised us because Merle had been in San Quentin Prison just a few years earlier and probably wasn’t supposed to even have a gun,” McDonald explained, “so I find it interesting that Merle hid that gun from us until that moment.”
Don’t go thinking McDonald paints Haggard as some crazed wild man. On the contrary, McDonald clearly looked up to Haggard and throughout the book praised his generous spirit and kindness. Along the way, McDonald reveals his own interesting story. For instance, he dabbled in music and worked as a disc jockey. Does he have any regrets not pursuing a music career?
“I sang in a nightclub in Las Vegas for four years, Thursdays through Sundays, and really enjoyed it, but I was never of the caliber to become a recording artist,” he admitted. “I was just good enough to keep the folks dancing, drinking beer, and gambling. I have no regrets about not trying to pursue a musical career because frankly I just wasn’t good enough.
“In the chapter I titled ‘Ray-Baby from K-Baby,’ I mention that I worked in San Luis Obispo in 1975 at an AM radio station called KATY. It was a hoot! I loved playing rock ‘n’ roll on the radio,” he continued. “Other than driving Merle’s bus, DJ work was my favorite job.”