**Pladd Dot Music vs. Old Man Winter: The Great NAMM No-Show of 2025 **

Well, folks, we tried. We really did. But as it turns out, Mother Nature had other plans for us, and they did not include basking in the musical wonderland of the Winter NAMM Show in sunny California. No, instead, we were stuck in the Deep South, frozen solid like a forgotten cup of sweet tea on the front porch.

It all started innocently enough—bags were packed, gear was ready, and spirits were high. But then, the unthinkable happened: *winter actually came to the South.* Now, if you live above the Mason-Dixon Line, you might be wondering, "So what?" But let us paint you a picture.

Imagine a land where snow is more of a mythical concept than an actual weather event. A place where the mere whisper of "freezing rain" sends grocery stores into a full-blown apocalypse mode, with desperate souls fighting over the last loaf of bread like it’s Black Friday at a Walmart in 1998. Yes, this was the scene.

Flights? Canceled. Roads? Iced over. Our carefully laid plans to bring the Pladd Dot Music magic to NAMM? Shattered like a cheap guitar dropped from a drum riser.

So, while our fellow music industry friends were off schmoozing, checking out the latest gear, and undoubtedly indulging in some overpriced convention center coffee, we were at home, layered up like an overcautious grandmother, watching YouTube clips of NAMM highlights and sighing dramatically.

Was it tragic? Yes. Will we recover? Also yes. But let this be a lesson to all: never underestimate the chaos that a Southern snowstorm can unleash, especially when it comes to travel plans.

To our friends who *did* make it—post lots of pictures, tell us all the juicy details, and maybe, just maybe, bring us back a cool NAMM-exclusive guitar pick or something. Until next year, Winter NAMM. We’ll see you—weather permitting.

And hey.... it wasn't all bad. You may have noticed that our Christmas windows are still on full display at the store.... That really made the windows still look quite in season! And since Chris still had his Christmas tree and decorations up at home, he *sorta* got a white Christmas.....