RIP Trip.

I didn't really know Clarence "Trip" Barnes when I lived on the island. I knew of him and saw him around town but his son Mike was a good friend. Mike owned what was, at the time i lived there, one of three record stores on Martha's Vineyard in '01. A place called Aboveground Records(the logo was *a) at The Triangle in Edgartown.

Now as you might imagine I've spent a great deal of time in a great number of record stores all over the country and I can say without a smidgen of hyperbole that *a was one of the best. Second only to Jazz Record Mart in Chicago afaic. I spent a substantial amount of time and money there.

I ran into Mike on the boat on the way back to Boston yesterday. First time I'd seen him in probably 15-16 years. Since I last lived there full-time. And besides the grey hair, reading glasses and, slow, loud, creaky movements that typify aging for all of us, it was as if no time had passed.

A good friend, long missed.

I share this obit because Mike's old man was a larger, waaaay larger, than life character who left a lasting legacy of generosity and kindness on MV.

Not least of which is Mike who now, in addition to managing the substantial amount of stuff his father left behind, drives a truck for the island food pantry and volunteers whenever a need arises.

We plan to spend some time together once the season subsides fully in a few weeks.

And great thanks to Trip for all you did for MV some of which is outlined at the source: https://vineyardgazette.com/news...