gifts

The Master of Life's been good to me. He has given me strength to face past illnesses, and victory in the face of defeat. He has given me life and joy where others saw oblivion. He has given new purposes to live for. New services to render and old wounds to heal. Life and love go on. Let the music play.
--Johnny Cash (1932-2003) American singer and songwriter 

Johnny's 79th birthday would have been today -- I didn't really come to appreciate the Man in Black until after his death, but since then I've been steadily working my way through his lifetime of work. Here's a song that was written as a gift to him in 1974 from his stepdaughter, Carlene Carter. After his death, this recording of the song "It Takes One To Know Me" was found in the vault of his studio.  Check out Johnny Cash Radio.

Above: The Appalachian Trail in the Roan Highlands.

Anyone hear of any updates re: the road and trail construction at the top of Roan? The original date I heard for completion of the project was June 2011. Anyone know if they are ahead of schedule?