THIS IS A LONG OVERDUE RECOGNITION OF MY OLDER SISTER MARTHA. NOT ONLY DID SHE GIVE ME LED ZEPLIN TAPES IN THE FIFTH GRADE, SHE HAS BEEN A CONSTANT COMPASS OF CULTURE AND MUSICAL APPRECIATION THROUGH OUT MY LIFE. DURING A TIME WHEN SO MANY PEOPLE AROUND ME TALK ABOUT LIFE, SHE IS A SERIOUS PARTICIPANT. OVER CHRISTMAS WE VISITED AT HER HOUSE IN BLACK MOUNTAIN, NC WHERE HER MANY ATTRIBUTES BECAME ONCE AGAIN OVERWHELMINGLY INSPIRATIONAL.
NOT ALL THE TIMES WERE GOOD, AND HER FAVORITE MAN, HUNNER A 14 YEAR OLD LIFE COMPANION AND ARCHETYPE OF THE PERFECT DOG IS STRUGGLING WITH THE FINAL STRETCH OF HIS LIFE. IT WAS DEEPLY SAD, AND ALSO SO BEAUTIFUL TO SEE THE TWO TOGETHER. 
…AND TOGETHER ON THE BLUE RIDGE PARKWAY:
MARTHA IS ALSO A PHOTOGRAPHER. ALTHOUGH SHE HAS BEEN USING A TERRIBLY OLD DIGITAL POINT AND SHOOT, SHE HAS CAPTURED SOME ASTOUNDING IMAGES OF TWO TWINS LIVING ON ST. JOHNS OF THE VIRGIN ISLANDS. THESE ARE HER GODSONS, AND SHE HAS DEDICATED HERSELF TO THEIR ENJOYMENT LIFE AND HER DOCUMENTATION OF SUCH. IN REVIEWING SOME OF THE PHOTOS SHE HAS MADE THERE, I AM STRUCK BY THE BEAUTY AND PRECISION HER PHOTOS DEMONSTRATE. SHE IS A WONDERFUL REMINDER THAT TO CARE ABOUT YOUR SUBJECT IS THE MOST IMPORTANT INGREDIENT, AND PERHAPS THE ROOT OF ALL GREAT PHOTOGRAPHY. THESE PHOTOS REALLY INSPIRE THE DOCUMENTARY PHOTOGRAPHER IN ME, ALL OVER AGAIN.
AND THIS PHOTO SHE MADE BACKSTAGE AT A TINA TURNER CONCERT THIS FALL…EAT YOUR HEART OUT VICE:
BIG PROPS FOR BIG SIS