Willie Nelson greets folk fans at Texas Roadhouse

Each of the 183 Texas Roadhouse restaurants in the United States has a corner dedicated to Willie Nelson -- complete with a neon sign, autographed bandanas and other memorabilia of the country music legend. Thursday, the Bloomington location had the most prized item of them all: Willie himself. \nA hoard gathered to catch a glimpse of Nelson, filling up the Texas Roadhouse's parking lot and street side for blocks in each direction. He parked his bus, the Honeysuckle Rose III, in front and signed copies of his new Christmas album, "Willie Nelson's Classic Christmas," for fans who waited more than three hours. \n"This is great," Nelson said. "A while back when my hands were bad, I had to stop signing autographs for a while -- I had the carpal tunnel operation, and I was off for a few months. So it's good to be back doing the same things again."\nNelson signed autographs, posed for pictures, kissed cheeks and waved to fans -- many of whom only managed to get in the restaurant to mingle for a few seconds with the red-headed (and now white-bearded) stranger. While sitting a few moments each with the fans, the media, the restaurant's management, VIPs and the three Bloomington Police Department officers working the event, Willie flashed his broad smile and quick wit.\nWas there anyone left he still wanted to work with?\n"I don't think so," he joked. \nAnd what was the weirdest item he's ever been asked to sign?\n"I can't tell you that," he said with a huge smile.\nFor those who did get to meet Nelson, the experience was worth the wait. Bloomington resident and 1987 IU graduate Paula Douthitt-Rush was one of the first to sit with him. \n"He kissed me! It was wonderful," she said. "I said, 'You are very, very sexy, Willie,' and he said, 'I never get tired of hearing that.' My legs are shaking, and I'm 40 years old. Can you believe this? I've never been so nervous since my wedding."\nSenior David Smart wore a Nelson-imitation, pig-tailed bandana (as did most of the Texas Roadhouse staff) when it was his turn in Willie's corner. Smart had Willie sign an empty bottle of whiskey after a three-and-a-half-hour wait. \n"A good old pint of whiskey," Smart said. "I got a friend who works here, and a lot of my buddies are big Willie Nelson fans. But this is for me, I'm keeping it."\nBloomington resident Jeff LeBeau arrived at the restaurant two hours in advance to get a CD signed as a Christmas present for a friend.\n"It was great, great to meet him," he said. "I'd never met anyone like him before, and it was worth the wait."\nTiara West, a student at Indiana Wesleyan, had the same goal in mind. West isn't even a Nelson fan, but she left work an hour and a half early, waited in line three more hours, got the CD and prepared to drive back without her husband knowing. \n"He's the Willie Nelson fan," she said. "It should be (a great gift). He'd better appreciate it."\nAfter the autograph session, Nelson headed back to the IU Auditorium, the site of his Thursday night concert. Nelson said beforehand he enjoyed playing in front of a college audience for the youthful enthusiasm.\n"Oh, it's great," he said. "There's a lot of good, young energy -- real good ... With the young audience, they're always ready for anything you're doing." \nAsked about his influences, Nelson mentioned IU alumnus and music legend Hoagie Carmichael. \nWillie recorded many of Carmichael's songs -- including "Stardust" and "Georgia on My Mind" -- on his famous platinum record, "Stardust." \nCarmichael wrote "Stardust" 73 years ago at the Gables on Indiana Avenue, the soon-to-be location of a BuffaLouies. Nelson said he'd have to visit some time. \n"I enjoyed (Carmichael's) writing and recorded a lot of his songs, enjoyed his movies," he said. "I wasn't really aware of that until earlier today somebody mentioned it to me, but it's an honor to be here."\nBut for the hundreds of exuberant Hoosiers who waited for hours to get in, who chanted "Willie, Willie" throughout and who sneaked as close as they could with cameras in hand, the honor did not belong to Willie. \nIt was theirs. \n-- Contact staff writer Gavin Lesnick at glesnick@indiana.edu.