kathleen edwards - headliner's/louisville (04.17.2008)

first, kathleen edwards rocks. absolutely no debate or question about it. she rocks. for those not familiar with her, she's one of those little girls (maybe 5'-5'2" & 100-110 lbs) with a big voice and she can drink and cuss (and rock) harder than any man (or woman) twice her size. she is currently touring in support of her (excellent) new record, "asking for flowers" and played headliner's on thursday night, which was a perfect (yet unfortunately, underattended) venue for her and her band, led by husband colin cripps.

this was the third time that i had seen her and while she was excellent everytime, each show has been better than the one before and last night was no exception. about 5:30am (after her show ended about 12:30 am), louisville experienced a very rare event, a 5.4 scale earthquake, followed by a 4.7 aftershock @ about 11:40am, i joked to a co-worker that kathleen rocked the city so hard that it was still shakin' the next morning.

her set was well balanced from her two previous records, "failer" and "back to me" (still my favorite) and leaning heavily towards stuff from "asking for flowers." while her first two nailed me from the first listen, i was a little disapponted with "asking..." on the first pass, but it has grown on me with each additional listen and now holds up very well to her other work.

she opened the show by telling us..."you’ve got to warm up a little bit before you bust a nut” and moved into the beautiful "mercury" (from "failer"), playing an old and well-worn gibson acoustic. we were also treated to her on electric and fiddle/violin, her band was tight and had a great time playing with her/for us. we also got the back story behind "i make the dough, you get the glory" (great one/marty mcsorley) and the live debut of "oh canada."

one of the funniest moments of the night was her telling us after the first couple of songs, "i love playing louisville, this is my beverage mecca" then she bent over, picked up her glass, which we later found out contained woodford reserve and held it up to the audience and said "i'm no diva, but it's great that you don't have to explain what 'bourbon is' in your rider when you play here" to huge applause. then she asked "which way is woodford county?" someone pointed towards the back of the stage and she turned around, took a sip, bowed and blew a kiss in that direction. later in the show, while playing very hard and pacing the stage, she accidentially kicked over her glass of woodford and told us, "oh no! i spilled my bourbon...GOOD NIGHT!" (it was quickly replaced with a smile from a fan up front).

kathleen, like most music that i seem to enjoy, doesn't really fit neatly into any "genre"... not pop, not rock, not alt-country, she's like if you threw them all into a bag, shook it up hard and let it go. and it works. beautifully.

i was able to snag a setlist and she signed it and a couple of pics for me after the show. as she was previously, she was very sweet and personable, thanking me (and everyone else) for coming out and supporting her and her music, such a sweetheart.

i've said often, if you get a chance to see this girl play live. GO! trust me, you will not regret it.

Cat Power - Song for Bobby...

god, i just love this woman...

Reach a hand to the crescent moon...

Reach a hand to the crescent moon
grab hold of the hollow
If she sits in the palm of the left
that moon will be fuller tomorrow
If she sits in the palm of the right
that moon is on the wane
and the love of the one who shares your bed
will be doing just the same

Won't you come with me', she said,
there's plenty of room in my iron bed
You're looking cold and tired
and more than a little human
I know I'm not part of the life you had planned,
but I think once your body feels my hand
your mind will change
and your heart will lose its pain'

Out among the fields gently hipped
beneath the corn,
Assiniboine bones beneath the highway
he stood there and he thought of home
A finger traces the path of a satellite
You're drawn to a distant copse of trees
A voice as sweet as Mare's Tail
clings to the prairie breeze

Won't you come with me', she said,
there's plenty of room in my iron bed
You're looking cold and tired
and more than a little human
I know I'm not part of the life you had planned,
but I think once your body feels my hand
your mind will change
and your heart will lose its pain'

Do I reach for you
when I know you're on the wane?
Do I sense you when I know you're not around?
Do I search for you
when I know you can't be found?
Do I dare to speak your name?

Raise your eyes to a moonless sky
and try to wish upon a rising star
Search all you want for her blessing
but you won't find her sparkling there
Now cast your eyes to a part of the sky
where nothing but darkness unfolds
and watch as all around you
she reveals the brilliance of secrets untold

Won't you come with me, she said,
there's plenty of room in my iron bed
You're looking cold and tired
and more than a little human
I know I'm not part of the life you had planned,
but I think once your body feels my hand
your mind will change
and your heart will lose its pain

(Mike Timmins)

april 4th - 40 years ago...

Abraham, Martin and John
Recorded by "Dion"
Words and Music by Richard Holler

Has anybody here seen my old friend Abraham?
Can you tell me where he's gone?
He freed a lot of people,
But it seems the good they die young.
You know, I just looked around and he's gone.

Anybody here seen my old friend John?
Can you tell me where he's gone?
He freed a lot of people,
But it seems the good they die young.
I just looked around and he's gone.

Anybody here seen my old friend Martin?
Can you tell me where he's gone?
He freed a lot of people,
But it seems the good they die young.
I just looked 'round and he's gone.

Didn't you love the things that they stood for?
Didn't they try to find some good for you and me?
And we'll be free
Some day soon, and it's a-gonna be one day ...

Anybody here seen my old friend Bobby?
Can you tell me where he's gone?
I thought I saw him walk up over the hill,
With Abraham, Martin and John.

---------------------------------------------------------

a sad memory of a sad day. it's one of those things that i remember like it was yesterday, hearing the news over the radio while riding in the car with my mother (today is her also birthday), hearing the news and her saying simply saying, "oh my god."

i was 12 at the time of his death and growing up in atlanta, i knew of him and what he stood for but i don't think i had any clue of his worldly (or even national) significance at the time of his death, but i knew something major, something horrible, something big had just happened from her reaction.

the world lost a great man, a great leader and part of our conscience and a piece of our soul on that day, it would have been a much better place had he been allowed to stay in it longer.

Cowboy Junkies - Louisville (03.27.2008)

4k and counting (and their blood is on your hands mr. bush)

theirs and the blood of over 250,000 innocent iraqi citizens.






Masters of War
The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan - 1963

Come you masters of war
You that build all the guns
You that build the death planes
You that build the big bombs
You that hide behind walls
You that hide behind desks
I just want you to know
I can see through your masks

You that never done nothin'
But build to destroy
You play with my world
Like it's your little toy
You put a gun in my hand
And you hide from my eyes
And you turn and run farther
When the fast bullets fly

Like Judas of old
You lie and deceive
A world war can be won
You want me to believe
But I see through your eyes
And I see through your brain
Like I see through the water
That runs down my drain

You fasten the triggers
For the others to fire
Then you set back and watch
When the death count gets higher
You hide in your mansion
As young people's blood
Flows out of their bodies
And is buried in the mud

You've thrown the worst fear
That can ever be hurled
Fear to bring children
Into the world
For threatening my baby
Unborn and unnamed
You ain't worth the blood
That runs in your veins

How much do I know
To talk out of turn
You might say that I'm young
You might say I'm unlearned
But there's one thing I know
Though I'm younger than you
Even Jesus would never
Forgive what you do

Let me ask you one question
Is your money that good
Will it buy you forgiveness
Do you think that it could
I think you will find
When your death takes its toll
All the money you made
Will never buy back your soul

And I hope that you die
And your death'll come soon
I will follow your casket
In the pale afternoon
And I'll watch while you're lowered
Down to your deathbed
And I'll stand o'er your grave
'Til I'm sure that you're dead


Copyright © 1963; renewed 1991 Special Rider Music

some sad news...

earlier tonight, i got a note from linford asking that i post a couple of notes to help get the word out and to let fans know that they were having to cancel their part of the last two shows w/ani "due to a family emergency."

unfortunately, the emergency was a serious one, his father just had a "massive heart attack" and had to be airlifted to a nearby hospital. karin & linford were just leaving birmingham and headed home so they could be with him as soon as possible.

sadly, i just got a call from karin letting me know that linford's father had just passed away. this, as karin said was "sudden and unexpected." she asked me to post something just to let everyone know what had happened.

many have heard and read of the admiration, love and respect that linford spoke of his father with, both verbally and in his writings. my best wishes and thoughts go out to linford, karin, and to their entire family during this time. peace to you all.

something linford had written about his father a couple of years ago...

Every day arrives, becomes evening, becomes night, becomes morning: Birth – Life – Death – Resurrection: Wow God.

A hawk flies dead quiet into the locust grove next to the garden and waits: Birth – Life – Death – Resurrection: Wow God.

The maples this year were golden, rouged through and through, gilded with ambers and lovely rust. The maple grove shook out the softest yellow blanket of leaves, a kneedeep invitation. Summer, Fall, Winter, Spring: Birth – Life – Death – Resurrection: Wow God.

My own father turned 80 this fall. My father: the Amish boy who left the Amish farm at age 21 and eventually bought an upright piano for his own son. Birth – Life – Death – Resurrection: Wow God.

This is the vibration of the universe, the everywhere song, the rhythm of everything.

Linford Detweiler for Over the Rhine,
Nowhere Farm, November 3, 2006

Over the Rhine, last night at the...

holy motherchurch of american music.







what an amazing night. it was short, far too short. but they were stoked and inspired. and inspiring.

there was a great, respectful and appreciative crowd, mostly ani's audience, of about +/-1,800 and the ryman holds +/-2,400, so not sold out but still a nice size audience. there must be quite a few of ani's die hards following this tour, when karin introduced "born" and "drunkard's prayer," both got great applause and most others seemed recognized.

the show started with a powerful "i don't wanna waste" and an early on admission, by a grinning from ear-to-ear & admittedly "twitterpated" karin (then she wondered if if that was the first time "twitterpated" was used on the ryman stage) of... "yeah, it's our first time and we're honored to be here" and it ended with the beautiful "motherless child," playing to a drop dead quiet house. this song is stunning. maybe their best cover ever. and a standing ovation. at the ryman.

it was just "the trio" w/K&L&J, which is a great sound and juicy worked his usual magic on the room. the sound was pristine. perfect. as i've said about the ryman before, you don't just "hear it," it wraps around you and swallows you whole.

the evening was made far more special by the fact that i was given backstage access to take pictures. not long after i arrived at the ryman, the promoter took me backstage where i met up with karin, linford, jake and juicy. after we said some quick hello's and shared a few hugs, karin walked me out to and on to the stage. the ryman is one of the most famous stages in the world, the list of greats that have played it is virtually endless. the greatest of greats have stood there, year after year and walking on that stage an awe inspiring experience and an honor.

great night juicy, jake, linford and karin. and glen. thank you.

more pics can be seen @: http://picasaweb.google.com/bivester

Grace Potter & the Nocturnals @ Headliner's, Louisville (03.11.2008)

great show. grace and band were incredible. it was my first, will not be my last. :=)

see for yourself:

"Come rain, sleet or snow, Tift is still playing"

tift's gibson





the bad news...about 4"-5" wintery mix of snow, sleet & ice was on the ground, it had consistantly been falling since about 8:00 am in the morning. and still was...and tift merritt, one of my favorite singer/songwriters, was scheduled to play a free set, her only show in the area, at ear x-tacy @ 6:00pm.

the good news... an e-mail from ear x-tacy about noon yesterday, simply said "come rain, sleet or snow, tift is still playing"

well, i got there about 5:30 and there were only about 10 people there so far, it ended up that about 30 or 40 of us braved it in just to see her (and about another 15-20 or so shopping the store and listening) and she was impressed and happy that so many had braved the elements to see her. so happy that she expanded her planned 30minute set to about an hour and 15 minutes. it was tift solo, on her acoustic gibson and keys. she played most of the new record, the beautiful, "another country" w/a few from "bramble rose & tamborine" thrown in for good measure. about 1/2 way into the show, she stepped out in front of the monitors, as she excused herself to the people sitting on the floor and said "can you hear me ok? let's try this" and launched to a beautiful, almost acapella version of "supposed to make you happy." it was stunning. beautiful. even in the middle of a busy record story on a snowy friday night. it was dead still and quiet.

afterwards she said "if you've got anything you want me to sign, if you wanna say hi, whatever, i'll be here" and she hung around and chatted, signed and asked everybody how they liked the new record, joked about the snow. she was wearing, as she explained, a "carolina blue," not "kentucky blue" ear x-tacy sweatshirt/hoodie* that she made john (ear x's owner) "give her" because she was "horribly unprepared" for the weather, it was snowing like crazy and she didn't even bring a coat and was wearing about 6" open toed heels (to which john commented "i like your snow boots"). she said, "wasn't it 60 degrees here yesterday?" we all answered "yes."

during the show and meet and greet, the snow turned to ice and the drive home was a little slippery. but it was well worth the trip. many thanks to tift, john and the staff @ ear x-tacy for making it happen.

*




and, if you aren't familiar w/tift, you should be:

Tom Waits For No One

freakin' brilliant.

hillary, i'm so disappointed in you...

i thought that we renounced the politics of fear...


seems your husband even commented on it,


obama's response...


game. set. match. obama.

if that's all you've got left hillary. let it go. quit now.

'nuff said...

vote democrat in november!

Over the Rhine @ The Bomhard Theatre in the Kentucky Center for the Performing Arts/Louisville (02.23.2008)

great show last night in this sold out, beautiful, acoustically sweet, 600 seat theatre within louisville's kentucky center for the performing arts. juicy had the room mixed perfectly and K&L&M&J delivered a beautiful, pretty diverse set including; including kicking off the show w/the surprising and stunning cover of "motherless child," many of the usual choices from TTC + "jesus in new orleans" (linford discussed that the ani tour would be their first return to NO since katrina), "cruel & pretty" followed by, at linford's request, "cast me away" (just K&L), a beautiful "etc whatever" (again, just K&L), "suitcase" and a wailing "b.p.d."

oh, and ben sollee rocked the fucking joint opening. a-damn-mazing set. this kid is a star.

he's opening for kim taylor next saturday night @ the northside tavern in cincinnati, can't wait to see him again.

Cat Power @ The Vic/Chicago - 02.10.2008

ok, i had two "firsts" yesterday, one of them was hell, the second made hell worthwhile...

the first first, "hell" was driving into and then hanging out in -2 degree weather (-42 w/windchill, the "good" news, it was supposed to be -8 ) in the legitimately named "windy city", the second was the cure for "hell" (and the sole reason for deciding to drive to a frigid chicago in early february for "fun")...spending the evening w/the talented and lovely chan marshall, aka: cat power.

she and the dirty delta blues band came out after a (too long) set by the completely dreadful opener "appaloosa" and played about a 2 hr set culled mostly from "jukebox." the vic is a pretty rundown older theatre in the lincoln park neighborhood of chicago, kind of a nice dive with great sound kind of place.

we chose to sit in the balcony when we figured out that we would be able to score front row up there as opposed to standing with about 1,200-1,300 people downstairs. as i said the audio was great, the audience was great, quiet, and most importantly, respectful and very appreciative. the set was mostly from "jukebox" and a few songs from "the greatest." the band was pretty amazing, w/judah bower and greg forman as standouts on lead guitar and keys respectively. and chan, what can i say, she was brilliant, mesmerizing...perfect. from the voice (i mean "the" voice), to her awkwardly sexy movements/dancing, she performed the majority of the show from the very front of the stage (standing in front of the monitors) making eye contact, smiling and waving at those down front (ok, maybe the balcony wasn't such a good idea ) and the rest of the show she danced, glided, slid, sat, rolled and made full use of the large and open area of the stage. basically, she (they) nailed it, every aspect of the show, nailed. perfect. excellent.

they played for about 1:50 and didn't do an encore but after she walked offstage and came back a couple of seconds later with an armful of tour t-shirts and started throwing them out to the audience, smiling, laughing and playing w/the crowd, nobody really seemed to mind.

i've been a fan of her's for quite a while, since "you are free" and this was the first time i have had the opportunity to experience her live. it will not be the last.

yes we can...

like him or not, you gotta admit, this is a pretty stirring piece of work...



fwiw, i like him. i wanna be FOR someone this time, not against someone. i like hillary too. unfortunately, due to this crazy assed primary set-up, i'll probably never have to choose between them, other than symbolically. by the time our primary rolls 'round, the decision will have long been made. [EDITED TO ADD: well...maybe not!]

i feel that on many important decisions facing the next president like; iraq, the economy, security, judges, taxes, immigration, the infrastructure of this country (or we continue to blow up and then rebuild highways, bridges, schools and fire stations in iraq while our's crumble here, masters of war indeed) etc., that i would find similar acceptable results from both obama and hillary. but, i do feel strongly that health care and insurance is one of the single biggest issues and potential disasters facing this country and that some sort of health care reform has a greater possibility of getting passed under a clinton administration than any other. she has been a long time very vocal advocate and it is important to me personally.

but, i do love the passion, hope and fire in his voice, i do love that he's inspiring and getting young people involved. very kennedy-esque. i'd love to see them on a ticket together, not saying who'd be "on top," but i think they'd be tough to beat.

february 10th can't get here soon enough...

february 10th can't get here soon enough...

"could we"

crying, waiting, hoping"

"remember me"

"who knows where the time goes"

"love and communication"

"maybe not"


nah, not excited or anything...

2007: The Year In Review...

karin bergquist/linford detweiler, taft theatre, cincinnati

karin bergquist, taft theatre, cincinnati

karin bergquist, joe's pub, new york

karin bergquist, fountain square, cincinnati

margo timmins, music mill, indianapolis

carrie rodriguez, the brown theatre. louisville

charlie louvin, the brown theatre, louisville

i was fortunate enough to make it to 40 concerts during 2007. 24 of those evenings were spent with my favorite band (who i saw for my 100th show in annapolis, MD in april) and some of my favorite people, over the rhine. i was also lucky enough to see some true music legends; charlie louvin, jorma kaukonen and david bromberg and some of my favorites; cowboy junkies, tim easton, patty griffin, carrie rodriguez and ryan adams a couple of times. it was a good year.

01/30/2007 - Kim Taylor & The Last Town Chorus @ The Phoenix Hill Tavern, Louisville, KY
03/26/2007 - Jorma Kaukonen & David Bromberg @ Kentucky Theatre, Lexington, KY
04/19/2007 - Patty Griffin @ The Beacon, NYC
04/24/2007 - Carrie Rodriquez/Lucinda Williams @ The Brown Theatre, Louisville, KY
05/29/2007 - Charlie Louvin, Ryan Adams @ The Brown Theatre, Louisville, KY
06/01/2007 - John Butler Trio @ Headliners, Louisville, KY
06/20/2007 - Mieka Pauley @ The Pleasant Perk, Cincinnati, OH
07/11/2007 - Ryan Adams @ The Brown Theatre, Louisville, KY
07/25/2007 - Cowboy Junkies @ The Music Mill, Indianapolis, IN
06/25/2007 - Tim Easton/Carrie Rodriguez @ Jim Porter’s, Louisville, KY
08/15/2007 - Patty Griffin @ The Brown Theatre, Louisville, KY
08/31/2007 - Josh Rouse (w/OtR) @ Coney Island Moonlight Gardens, Cincinnati, OH
09/06/2007 - Alejandro Escovedo @ Headliners, Louisville, KY
09/07/2007 - John Prine @ The Palace Theatre, Louisville, KY
10/01/2007 - Tim Easton/Mark Olson @ St. Francis, Louisville, KY
11/27/2007 – Cowboy Junkies @ 20th Century Theater, Cincinnati, OH

Over the Rhine:
02/02/2007 - WFPK Studio/Live Lunch, Louisville, KY
02/02/2007 – The Dame, Lexington, KY
03/16/2007 - Canal Street Tavern, Dayton, OH
03/17/2007 - Canal Street Tavern, Dayton, OH
04/20/2007 - Ram's Head, Arlington, VA
04/21/2007 - Joe's Pub, New York, NY (7:00PM)
04/21/2007 - Joe’s Pub, New York, NY (10:00 PM)
04/27/2007 - 20th Century Theater, Cincinnati, OH
04/28/2007 - 20th Century Theater, Cincinnati, OH
05/27/2007 - Fountain Square, Cincinnati, OH
06/08/2007 - 3rd and Lindsley, Nashville, TN
08/09/2007 - Meijer Gardens, Grand Rapids, MI
06/22/2007 - The 930 Listening Room, Louisville, KY
08/30/2007 - Joseph-Beth Bookstore, Cincinnati, OH
08/31/2007 - Coney Island Moonlight Gardens, Cincinnati, OH
09/01/2007 - The Dame, Lexington, KY
09/02/2007 - 3rd and Lindsley, Nashville, TN
10/05/2007 - Buskirk-Chumley Theater, Bloomington, IN
10.12/2007 - Kentucky Center for the Arts (WFPK Live Lunch), Louisville, KY
11/17/2007 - Canal Street Tavern, Dayton, OH
12/11/2007 - The Belcourt – Nashville, TN
12/13/2007 - The Music Mill, Indianapolis, IN
12/15/2007 - The Taft, Cincinnati, OH
12/16/2007 - St. Elizabeth’s, Cincinnati, OH

*the new year is starting to shape up well, i've scored tickets to see the #1 on my list of favorites, but yet unseen artists early in '08, cat power @ the vic in chicago in february. one down on my "musy see list for the year, neko to go... plus, i'll also get to see OtR & the junkies at home, in louisville in february and march. not a bad start to the year, three of my favorites, in my hometown, if only ryan and neko would drop by...

also, i've compiled a list of the best music released of 2007 (imho, of course), there was some great stuff put out this year:

The Best:
1) Over the Rhine - "The Trumpet Child"
2) Teddy Thompson - "Up Front and Down Low"
3) Cowboy Junkies - "Trinity Revisited" (w/Ryan Adams, Natalie Merchant & Vic Chesnutt)
4) Ryan Adams - "Easy Tiger"
5) Levon Helm - "Dirt Farmer"
6) Over the Rhine - "Live From Nowhere V2"
7) Patty Griffin - "Children Running Through"
8) Johnny Cash - "The Great Lost Performance" (Paramount Theatre, Asbury Park, NJ - 1990)
9) Robert Plant & Alison Krauss - "Raising Sand"
10) Lucinda Williams - "West"

Honorable mentions:
(in no particular order)
Richard Thompson - "Sweet Warrior"
Feist - "The Reminder"
Bruce Springsteen - "Magic"
Ryan Adams - "Follow the Lights"
*only this far down the list because it's just an EP
Wilco - "Sky Blue Sky"
John Butler Trio - "Grand National"
Cowboy Junkies - "At The End of Paths Taken"
Jorma Kaukonen - "Stars In My Crown"
Swan Dive - "Until"
Grace Potter and the Nocturnals - "This Is Somewhere"

hope your year was great, and the next one, even better.

Cat Power - To Be A Good Woman

Cat Power - Good Woman - Live TM Paris 22.10.2003.dkly`
Uploaded by Superpatri

GOOD DOGS DIE HARD - The Photography of Michael Wilson

last night i went to an exhibit by photographer michael wilson in cincinnati (actually @ "the york street cafe," a very artist friendly venue in newport, ky). simply stated, michael is a genius, a brilliant yet humble artist. posted below is karin bergquist's recollection of the evening, with words like her's to capture and express the night, any effort i might make would be lame in comparison (scroll down below the photos for karin's thoughts)...

Karin Bergquist & Willow | Norwood, Ohio | July 1998

Muddy Waters' Cabin | Stovall Plantation, Mississippi | April 1996

Karma to Burn | West Virginia | August 1994

Replacements (Paul Westerberg & Tommy Stinson) | Minneapolis, Minnesota | July 1990

Leo Kottke's Guitar | Boulder, Colorado | April 1995

Mt. Calvary Choir Member | Youngstown, Ohio | October, 1993

Emmylou Harris w/ Dogs | Nashville, Tennessee | May 2000

Loudon Wainwright III & Joe Henry | Pasadena, California | February 2007

GOOD DOGS DIE HARD

We spent last night with our friends, celebrating. Michael Wilson is opening a portrait studio and we’re all thinking, Yes. When you are a fan, you want everybody to hear it, to see it, to know it and feel it. I’m talking about that chemical reaction that starts on your skin and seeps through the layers, leeching through the veins soaking into your bones like water into a dry sponge.

If everybody could just see this (feel this, taste this…) life would be so much better all the way around.

We walked up into the third floor of the York St Café to find Michael and Marilyn, his children, sister Donna, and a couple of close friends and family members still scurrying around in preparation for the silent auction of some of Michael’s prints.

The energy in the room was sacred, but not sterile. Holy but not austere. And the hair on my arms prickled to life as we walked around the room drinking in the work of our greatest single musical influence.

Isn’t that something? He’s a photographer by trade. But Linford and I have repeatedly stated that he’s been more influential to us musically than any other single source.

(After all, it was Michael who first played Tom Waits for us.)

I came to realize Michael had chosen an older photo of myself and our beloved Willow, our Weimaraner, for his brochure and as one of the portraits to be voicelessly auctioned off that evening.

Something stirred in me seeing the old girl, so alive, so at work, watching me for her next clue.
Other folks who remembered her commented how her naturally sepia-toned beauty transcended her death thanks in part to Michael’s keen eye.

Beauty in the eye of the beholder, and so on…

I then saw Emmy Lou Harris’s portrait with her dogs, and Bill Frisell and Joe Ely each with theirs. And I know that Michael shares this deep deep love of dogs with us. I’ve seen him with his own. I’ve seen our own formerly abused and extremely man-shy Great Dane, Elroy, whine with gushing affection at the touch of Michael’s gentle hand.

We spend much of our lives trying to wrap our heads around what it is we do – what it is we are supposed to do – what we are called to do. However you want to phrase it, on a good damn day we simply surrender to it, wag our tails and play.

We find that in fact we truly are capable of chasing the Frisbee, and we run, jump and catch it looking surprisingly like Derek Jeter.

We run.

Some days we have to work so hard to be faithful to It especially in it’s most elusive, gray moments, some of those moments lasting for years; and that spiraling transition we call depression. I think about my own crippling self-doubts and the smoke and fog of that blinding deafness. The smoldering depression that lurks around the corner just waiting for one spark of fear to set it off again.

And I’m so thankful that I’m not the only one in the world who has ever felt this.

I am especially thankful that I’m not living there today.

We’re all still learning – which means we ain’t dead yet.
Tail wagging.

Run.
Run.
Run!

With gratitude and admiration,
Karin

PS Stay tuned for more about Michael Wilson’s Portrait Studio or go here now:
http://www.daylightportrait.com