Young Mary Records

I mean this sincerely.

The piping hot meal I just ate in total silence in my car in the Jack in the Box parking lot off this stretch of Texas interstate deserves a Michelin Star more than at least 5 of the Michelin star places I have eaten.

There is a strip mall that sells Kratom next door and a Loves Truck Stop across the street. When I asked for sweet n sour sauce for my 3 piece egg roll, the drive- thru attendant put two packets in my bag, paused — and then threw another one in saying:

“Each egg roll needs its own sauce.”

I’d vote for her for any public office if she ran. She was a delight.

PS. My arm still hurts from that massage, but no tumor.

The highly requested HeadSpa substack is up!

1 link in bio to read my side quest report
2 after photo
3 horror show on mac computer of my scalp
4 me every time im offered an upsale of anything even if i dont know what the hell it is, what it does, or how much it costs
5 the chateau parking lot 17 minutes after we left

Hi from LA

✅ ordered a $15 orange juice
✅ sat by a pool under a Beyoncé billboard
✅ every Uber I’ve called has been a tesla with
the glass ceiling and palm trees just pass over head your whole drive - it does set a scene
✅ on the way to a lesser known head spa treatment where I’ll look at my scalp on a mac and then be offered many upsell options I will probably succumb to

I’ll write the whole report on my substack. Dont miss it when it comes: Youngmary.substack.com

This is what 102 years old looks like on my father’s mother, Blonda.

I’m using a dry erase board here to chat with her — her hearing has gone to the wayside just recently. But her mind? Still clear and measured as the bluest sky.

When I was little but still had some cousins much littler than me — you know that age ? — there was a season when our parents lined up lawn chairs on the sidewalk facing the little garden at the front of her house. At dusk, she had these plants that would bloom right in front of your eyes when night fell. I mean it - petals unfurling right there like when they speed up nature happening on tv. Even the most cynical among the on-lookers whispered a “wow.”

I can remember everything about the days leading up to those magic floral events. How green, sharp and soft the grass was on my bare legs and feet. Sometimes even down to what my mother had on or which big glass of tea she brought from home. Which cousins were there or not. How the starry-air whipped through the open car window as my dad drove us down the hill home.

When I tell people about my grandmother, her story and her triumphant longevity and attitude - even the most cynical whispers a “wow” just like they did for the flowers.

It will never be lost on me the privilege that all of this is. Being the granddaughter of a iron-spined, Appalachian matriarch, who’s been wowing since 1920. What a world.

muddy waters
white daughters

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This rad tee is from one of my favorite artists & creative brains, directly from the heart of the Mississippi delta Lambfish Art Company!

Check his wares. Thank me later.

Aye,
(in M-I-S-S-I-S-S-I-P-P-I )

she's a weekender
aint nobody gotta
defend her

Folks, please consider spending part of your day with my episode of Lifesongs Podcast focusing on "my favorite record I've never heard" -- A Night in Room 8, by Billy Don Burns.

I couldn't be more touched by how Savannah from Lifesongs told the story of how much this record, Billy Don, Shooter Jennings Official, Black Country Rock, Misty Swain & of course The Colonel Jon Hensley mean to me and impacted my life.

Hit the link:

http://lifesongspodcast.com

Aye,
And Aye,

tuesdaze

Honey, think them crazy thoughts
Honey, go and go and go
but always carve an exhale
in your home away from home.

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aye, put your 👂🏻ears👂🏻to W.B. Walker's Old Soul Radio Show

aye, dis 📷: Melissa Stilwell Photography

and aye,

Never Refuse A Muse: Alice Cooper Edition

🎤 reunited and it feels so good 🎤

Thanks to CerealKyler Photography for capturing this moment of me & Alice at Louisville Palace over the weekend.

Often times I lament the lack of true grit rock n' roll in today's music landscape, but this dude is still holding strong. Alice's show is brilliant and theatrical and packed with his legendary catalog of tunes! Go see it. Thank me later. Or better, thank Alice.



And
aye,

tune up & tune out

1. Never trust a cowboy.
2. Never refuse a muse.
3. ________________?

this motorcycle provided by : Winston Harvey

The man in this photo has a more sound understanding of the state of authentic country music than any suit in Nashville, TN.

He is inherently Appalachian royalty : with a fueled-up, growing legacy as dark and strong as coal and a mind as bright and facetted as a dang diamond. He's my secret listening weapon and deejay, truly one of "the ones" and I am thankful to call him a friend.

There's a whole lot of powerful emotions (besides a good time) in why I chose him and Justin Payne to flank the wings of 's Ryman debut.

"This is who we are. This is who we'll be."

Please wish a happy birthday and throw a follow to the host with the most, W.B. Walker's Old Soul Radio Show !

hell cat
and never gonna quit that

Aye,

:: special thanks to Sean Maguire for this rad tee and one year of friendship ::