Random Shuffle - Randy Travis, Ryan Adams, Curtis Mayfield, and Cat Stevens

"Forever and Ever Amen" - Randy Travis
From Always and Forever
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I have an uncle, he's one of those uncles. He's never been married. He lived with his parents until they died. He frequents a local bar enough that when he arrives the crowd cheers him on Norm-like, etc. I make him sound pathetic there, and there is some of that to him, but really he is a very nice man and has always been a very good uncle.

As a kid, he would periodically take me and my cousins to various places. I can remember riding up to Tulsa to go to the zoo or we'd go see the local minor league baseball team in the summer. The best trips were when we'd ride up to Coffeyville, Kansas and see where the Dalton gang robbed some banks and died in a shoot-out. Hot stuff for a kid. My uncle would take us to these places, and tell us all kinds of stories there and back. I supposed he did this because he had no children of his own, and we became like surrogates.

We'd ride there in his little car and listen to the country music station. He'd often tell me that no matter where you went in this country you could always find a country and western station. Even in the smallest of places. In my 32 years of living, I have found this to be true. Randy Travis was my favorite, and I'd sing this song with all the conviction a 10 year old can muster.

I'm older now, of course, and so is he. We no longer go places together, and I suppose that's the way it is to be. I have nephews now, and though I no longer care for baseball, and zoos tend to make me uncomfortable I think that once it gets warm again, I'll have to take them out and perhaps listen to a little country music.

"The Hardest Part" - Ryan Adams
From Jacksonville City Nights
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On his very peculiar blog, Ryan Adams recently announced that he is quitting the Cardinals, and perhaps music. It seems he is ill, or diseased, or something (nothing comes easy on that blog) and it is keeping him from enjoying music. As it comes from Ryan Adams, who on his best days could never be what one called stable, there are still question marks hovering over the truthfulness of this. Likely as not he'll quit for awhile then announce a come back and make some startling, remarkable music.

Article Author: Mat Brewster

Mat Brewster is a periodic ex-pat wondering if he'll ever find a home. You can find him musing on pop culture, and obsessing over concert bootlegs at The Midnight Cafe.

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