So while I haven’t finished any books in a little while that doesn’t mean that I haven’t been reading and out buying new books, much to the consternation of my better half. So what’s been happening. First I started to read the second book in the David Loogan series from Harry Dolan Very Bad Men, which I have checked out of the library. No, wait, first I started to read William Kent Krueger‘s latest Cork O’Connor book Windigo Island on the Kindle, then Very Bad Men. Then to compound everything, I went to Dollar General where I saw Sanctus by Simon Toyne, which looked pretty interesting. From the cover: “Frightening, ruthless, and relentlessly entertaining” – Brad Meltzer “A cliffhanger ….. that aspires to towering heights” Kirkus Reviews So never being one to pass up a bargain book $3.00 for a $9.99 list book from 2011, I bought it and then started it. So now I am reading three books!! I am making progress in each one and right now, none of them have grabbed me to the point ,that I will only read that book!! Hopefully, one of them will!! Finally in the midst of all this, I went to the Dollar Tree the other night with my wife and much to her dismay I bought three more books! – At dollar each how can you go wrong!! The books are: Silent Screams – C.E. Lawrence The Coldest Fear – Rick Reed Delirious – Daniel Palmer Anyone have an opinion as to which of these I should read first?? Oh , the third Keye Street book from Amanda Kyle Williams is on my to be read shelf, checked out from the library!! Can you say too many books, not enough time!!! I wouldn’t want it any other way!! It’s time for me to crank up some jazz and get reading!!
Category: Life
Babysitting Granddaughter Zoe leads to the New Age Music of A Beginner’s Mind – Thanks Zoe!
So last week while I was babysitting my two month-old granddaughter Zoe, I had Soundscapes one of Comcast’s Music Choice stations on the TV. My thought was that the instrumental New Age music would keep us both relaxed, and I think that for the most part it did the trick, at least for me. Some old friends like R Carlos Nakai and Peter Kater made an appearance with a track from their album Ritual, along with some music from David Arkenstone. There also was a lot of music from folks that I didn’t know, like Armand & Angelina and their album Sacred Flute Journeys and a group named A Beginner’s Mind and their release Mindust. After I came home I went to Spotify and gave the album a listen and really liked the album a lot.
I went searching for information about the band and album, but I didn’t find much. It doesn’t appear that they have a website, no Facebook or MySpace page, the only thing that I found was a page at BandCamp! At that page I read……
Peter Day and Ben Brooks have been playing music for over 30 years off and on. They are from Pasadena, California. Mindust is currently being played on Air Force One, the Soundscapes Music Choice channel and other outlets.
Ok so now we know that Peter Day and Ben Brooks are A Beginner’s Mind. Peter plays keyboards and nylon-stringed guitar
while Ben plays the flute!! Both of them are fine musicians in my ever so humble opinion. Here’s what Ben wrote about making the album…..
I don’t have a reference point to describe this collection of pieces. That’s because Peter and I were flying by the seat of our pants. No writing, no rehearsal, no idea what we were going to play. Peter would arrive at my home studio on a weekend afternoon. We’d talk about our lives for a little while….then punch RECORD. That’s the truth! That’s where these recordings began. We added the orchestration and percussion later. But, the original recording was just guitar or KORG KARMA keyboard (when Peter felt like playing it) and flute. We really had no expectations or agenda. Over time we accumulated quite a few recordings and narrowed them down to what you have here. Hope you like it! — Ben Brooks January 1, 2014
The percussion they added later was provided by Rich Mangicaro!
So if you get a chance head over to their Bandcamp page I think you’ll like them! Here’s a short three track playlist from Spotify…….
Dad watches proudly as Elizabeth runs her first 10K!! Yes, our Elizabeth!!
Cross-posted from EKKarn’s Explorations
A month or so ago our daughter Elizabeth surprised her mother and I, when she told us that on November 8th we had to go with her to Trenton, where she would be running a 10K! It surprised us because she has never been athletic. She enjoys and follows sports, but never played any, or even showed any inclination to do so. When she had to run the mile in gym in high school, she mostly walked! Her brother Andrew ran cross-country as did I, and I also continue to run, but not Elizabeth. This running surprise comes after we were surprised at her graduation party for receiving her Master’s Degree from the University of Delaware, At the party, we were told by her friend, that Elizabeth is awesome when she works out with weights at the gym. Our Elizabeth???
Anyway, there I was on Saturday, the coldest morning of the fall, walking down Cass Street in Trenton, to join the crowd of runners who would be participating in the 3rd Annual Trenton 5K,10K and Half-Marathon! I haven’t run for about three weeks so I didn’t join in the festivities, but I didn’t mind because this was Elizabeth’s day!
Here’s a picture of her at the start of the race and here she is at the finish inside Arm &Hammer Stadium!!
She finished in about the time she thought she would 1 hour and 5 minutes, running at a 10:32 pace, which was good enough for an 8th place in her age group!!
Now I said I was surprised, but I don’t really know why I was because Elizabeth has never been one to stay within her comfort zone. When she was in her senior year at high school, where she was number one in her class, she became her class representative to the school board meetings because she thought that it would help her to speak before people! Both her mother and I would avoid a situation like that, like the plague!! Prior to that, she had attended a week-long Student leadership conference in Washington D.C. when she was in the 8th grade, and a three-week summer class at William & Mary when she was a high school sophomore!! Attending that class, may have helped her to get accepted at William &Mary a few years later. At a minimum, as a result of taking the class, she knew she liked W&M!
So I say to Elizabeth, congratulations on your run, your mother and I are very proud of you! Now if I can only learn from you how to live outside of my comfort zone maybe someday I’ll get to go to England and Ireland, or at least run that half-marathon that I keep saying I should try to run some day……how about the second Saturday in November next year, you think Elizabeth will be up for it!!
Hum, I think I’ll check out a half-marathon training schedule at Walk, Jog Run or Runner’s World!!……
Exploring the Joys of Grandparenthood! Halloween’s made fun again!
So after many years of being an irrelevant holiday, my grandchildren made Halloween relevant today!! Oliver and his mom Meaghan visited my wife and I at my wife’s workplace today (Riverside schools) and then Zoe and her parents had dinner with us tonight!!
I love music of all kinds,
but there’s no greater music
than the sound of my grandchildren laughing;
my kids, too.
Hum, the music from Oliver appears to be the blues…..
“Why oh Why, did they dress me like this!”
“I said, why, oh, why did they dress me like this….
While Zoe appears to be channeling Screamin’ Jay Hawkins’
” I’ll Put a Spell on You!”
American Forces Begin “Operation Hastings” in Vietnam -July 15,1966
Thoughts about the Vietnam War:
American Forces Begin “Operation Hastings” in Vietnam -July 15,1966
On July 15th of 1966, US forces began “Operation Hastings” an operation to drive North Vietnamese forces from the demilitarized zone between North and South Vietnam. From Wikipedia….
Operation Hastings was an American military operation in the Vietnam War. The operation was a qualified success in that it pushed the North Vietnamese Army (NVA) forces back across the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ). As the NVA clearly did not feel constrained by the Operation Hastings was an American military operation in the Vietnam War. The operation was a qualified success in that it pushed the North Vietnamese Army (NVA) forces back across the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ). As the NVA clearly did not feel constrained by the “demilitarized” nature of the DMZ, US military leadership ordered a steady build-up of U.S. Marines near the DMZ from 1966 to 1968.
I was 15 in 1966 and on the cusp of caring about what was happening in Vietnam, but over the next few years, as I approached draft age, my concern would obviously, grow. Eventually, I ended up on the side that thought the war was wrong, and wanted to bring our troops home.
When I think about this period of my life, the musician who comes to mind is Country Joe McDonald….”and it’s 1, 2, 3 What are we fighting for….” No really, it’s Phil Ochs and the song that comes to mind and really sums up for me, why we were destined to fail in Vietnam, and with a change in countries it’s “White Boots Marching in an Arab Land”….
When Tony angrily confronts Jim with the bitter accusation that he fought in Vietnam so that burnouts like him could stay home and get loaded at protest rallies, the philosophical Ignatowski can only stammer a heartfelt, and utterly sincere, “Thank you.” Read More
and while I did not get loaded at Protest Rallies I also say – Thank You!
Evening thoughts : “Navajo Rug” – Grandson Oliver and his Great-Grandparents Clarke!
So I just finished a four mile run, when actually maybe a one mile jog to almost fast walk, I hate the hot weather! Anyway, after I was finished, I collapsed in my chair here in front of the computer and almost fell asleep, I did manage to get up and take a shower. As I was getting out of the shower I was trying to think of what to eat, something maybe quick and light and decided on a fried egg sandwich. That means two eggs on toast….., which in turn leads my mind to “Well, it’s two eggs up on whiskey toast……” and Jerry Jeff ….
Yes, Oliver flirted with several of the women, but he was entranced by only one thing……. the iPhone…..
That’s his Dad holding Oliver, as he stares happily at my iPhone!!
As I was looking for these pictures that my wife had posted on my Facebook page, I came across these pictures of my daughter Elizabeth and my wife’s mother (and Jim’s sister) I knew there was a strong resemblance between the two but I didn’t realize, how strong it was……..
One of the biggest – hell “I only wish thats” of my life – was that my children would have been able to know my wife’s parents, Bob and Ruth Clarke, who were two wonderful people, that could have had a very positive impact on my family! I know that their spirit has actually been passed on to our kids, by my wife, but still, it would have been nice, if they could have done it themselves!
My wife’s mother Ruth Browne Clarke died at the age of 48 in 1981 from breast cancer, and her father Robert Nelson Clarke died of a heart attack in 1993 at the age of 60. Damn!
Two Eggs and Jerry Jeff: A Family Moment
Two Eggs and Jerry Jeff: A Family Moment
So I just finished a four mile run—well, actually more like a one mile jog and a fast walk. I hate the hot weather! After I was finished, I collapsed in my chair in front of the computer and almost fell asleep. I did manage to get up and take a shower. As I was getting out, I was trying to think of what to eat—something quick and light. I settled on a fried egg sandwich.
That means two eggs on toast… which in turn leads my mind straight to Jerry Jeff Walker:
“Well, it’s two eggs up on whiskey toast…”
My wife took a series of pictures of Oliver with her Uncle James Browne. Thinking about it, Jim was really the only one of our aunts and uncles around except for Kathy’s Uncle Roy, who lives in California. So here is Oliver with his grand-uncle:
Yes, Oliver flirted with several of the women, but he was entranced by only one thing… the iPhone!
That’s his dad holding him as he stares happily at my iPhone!
While I was looking for these pictures on my Facebook page, I also came across photos of my daughter Elizabeth and my wife’s mother, Ruth Browne Clarke. I knew there was a strong resemblance, but I didn’t realize just how strong:
One of my biggest “I only wish that…” moments in life is that my children never had the chance to know Kathy’s parents, Bob and Ruth Clarke. They were two wonderful people who would have had such a positive impact on our family. I know that their spirit has been passed on to our kids through Kathy, but still—it would have been nice if they could have done it themselves.
Ruth Browne Clarke died of breast cancer in 1981 at the age of 48, and Robert Nelson Clarke died of a heart attack in 1993 at the age of 60. Damn.
🎵 Related Family Moments:
Jerry Jeff’s music has popped up at other family milestones too—most memorably at Peter’s wedding, where a JJW song found its way into the celebration.
PS: Funny side note—about the only Jerry Jeff song my wife actually likes is “Navajo Rug.”
Of course, it’s not really a JJW song at all—it’s a cover of the Ian Tyson and Tom Russell tune.
But I’ll take the win—if it gets Jerry Jeff playing in the house, I’m happy!
A Family Video made for My Cousin – Music “Who Knows Where The Time Goes” – The Strawbs – Sandy Denny
Yesterday was not a good day for a variety of reasons and tonight as I sat at the computer I thought I need some laughs! So I went to Youtube with the intent of finding a funny video and when I got there I got distracted – big surprise there! . Because I found one of my first drafts of a video, I was making for my cousin Marti’s 60th birthday party. In the video I used a variety of pictures Marti at various ages along with photos of my father and his brothers Arthur, (Marti’s father) and Kenny. I’m in several of the pictures with Marti. I used The Strawbs “Who Knows Where the Time Goes” featuring the vocals of Sandy Denny. when I got done this draft my wife thought it was a little too depressing so I changed the final version. If I ever find that I’ll post it but for now here’s the first go round and by the way I still need a laugh!! Now maybe even more!!
The photos at the beginning of the video our of our grandparents and a couple of our great grandparents on both the Karn and the Meyer sides. Here they are with captions explaining who they are…..
 Maternal great-grandfather Herman Meyer born in Germany |
 Maternal great-grandmother Helene Wendel Meyer born in Germany |
 Pauline Hechler Karn my paternal great-grandmother born in Switzerland. |
 Grandparents – Edward Karn and Charlotte Meyer Karn |
Herman Meyer was born in Koningswalde, Saxony, Germany in 1871 and was a member of the King’s guard before he married Helene. He came to the US in 1911 a year before the rest of the family made the trip in September of 1912. In the US he was a nurseryman and worked at Dreer’s Nursery. As part of the work he took care of the landscaping at the Zurbrugg house in Delanco, NJ, which is where he is standing in the picture.
Helene Wendel Meyer was I believe born in Dresden, Germany in 1880. She had two sisters Frieda, and Elsie and a brother Moritz. Both Frieda and Elsie came to the US, Frieda married Hugo Doelling and lived in Philly and Delanco, while Elsie married Curtis Schrier and eventually settled in the Bethlehem, PA, area. Herman and Helene had three children daughters Irmmagard and Charlotte and a son Albert.
Pauline Hechler Karn (Grissie) was born in Switzerland and came to the US in the 1880s with her parents Daniel and Suzanne Hechler and her brother Gustav. Pauline married Henry Karn and they had five children, Emma, Anna, Charles, Harry, and my grandfather Edward. They lived in Delran and Moorestown.
Edward H. Karn Sr. married Charlotte Meyer. Edward farmed on Creek Road in Delran up until 1939 when they left the farm. After that he farmed in Willingboro until he had a series of heart attacks. Edward and Charlotte had three sons my father Edward H Karn, Jr was the oldest, followed by Arthur and then Kenny…….the video was made for Marti the oldest daughter of Arthur and Pauline(Polly) Karn. Their youngest daughter is Arlene. Both Marti and Arlene live in South Carolina.
All this is part of my know your past so let’s see we are a large part German on both the Meyer and Karn side (Henry was born in Germany too), with a bit of Swiss thrown in. Maybe that’s why I’m partial to those German prog rock bands????? I know that my father’s first cousin Eleanor, daughter of Irma, always was very proud of her German heritage and always belonged to German-American clubs!!
Here is the video…..sorry about the title page, hope you like it!! And if anyone from Konigswalde or Dresden reads this and know anything about my ancestor’s please let me know!!!
Musical Thoughts about that Parent Child Relationship (Videos)
Life – Roots & Leaves
Stories from family life, music memories, and the generational journey
Last night at Target, as I worked through my usual shift, my thoughts drifted to Andrew, Meaghan, and little Oliver and the perilous but wonderful journey of parenthood they’ve begun.
We’ve taken that trip four times—maybe we’re still on it—and somehow, I think we’ve done pretty well so far. But raising kids isn’t easy. There are so many opportunities to say the wrong thing or take the wrong action. All you can do is:
- Keep them safe
- Guide them toward strong moral character
- Love them unconditionally
I used to tell my kids, “You know what’s right and what’s wrong—so do the right thing!”
And through every mistake and misstep, one truth never changed: you may not like every choice they make, but you never stop loving them.
So to Andrew and Meaghan, I say: Good luck! I know you already know the right things to do to create a loving and nurturing environment for Oliver. Beyond that… you hope, you guide, and you love.
Roots – Songs That Shaped My Parenting Journey
Certain songs have been with me through every stage of this journey. They’re part of my life’s roots—reminding me what it meant to be a child, a parent, and now a grandparent.
1. The Younger Generation – John Sebastian / The Lovin’ Spoonful
Back in college, a little rebellious, this song always made me stop and think about life from the parent’s side.
2. Father and Son – Cat Stevens (Yusuf Islam)
By the mid‑70s, this song felt like my own inner dialogue—remembering my father’s words while thinking about my own kids.
3. Child’s Song – Tom Rush
As my kids grew, this song became the soundtrack to letting go, trusting that the roots we gave them were enough.
Leaves Update – 11 Years Later
Time flies. That tiny little Oliver I wrote about back then?
– He’s now 11 years old,
– Taller than his mom,
– And quickly catching up to his dad!
And you know what? Andrew and Meaghan have done a wonderful job.
The advice, hopes, and songs I shared all those years ago seem to have taken root—watching Oliver grow into the next branch of our family tree has been pure joy.
Another Leaf – “Child’s Song” in Real Life
Thinking back, Child’s Song wasn’t just an abstract lyric for us.
When we dropped Andrew off at Kean University, our first to leave home for college, I cued up Tom Rush’s Child’s Song in the car.
Halfway through, my usually stoic wife turned to me and said,
“Please… turn that off.”
And she was right.
– That song hits differently when the moment is real.
– Letting go is never easy, even when you know it’s the right thing.
It’s one of those moments where music stops being just a song and becomes the soundtrack to life—painful, beautiful, and unforgettable.
🌱 Life grows in roots and leaves.
More Life Posts →
Thoughts about Abiyoyo and grandbaby Oliver Edward Karn
So sometime this month, my wife and I will become grandparents for the first time, when my son Andrew and his wife Meaghan have their baby, Oliver Edward Karn!!
Well, it’s actually Meaghan doing all the work right now and Andrew just gets the congratulations!! A couple of weeks ago, they had Meaghan’s baby shower.and Oliver’s gifts from Andrew’s brothers and sister and my wife and I were books and not just any books, but ones that were special to us.
The kids picked ones that were read to them and my wife and I picked either ones that were read to us or ones that we read to the kids! After my wife, whose idea it was first announced the idea. Peter immediately said “I’ll get Where the Wild Things Are” – though Bossy Boots may have been a better choice! What surprised my wife and I, was the first book that Elizabeth picked, which was Abiyoyo! The picture book based on the Pete Seeger song….
Four out of the five books that I gave Oliver were ones that I read to the kids. The only one that I could think of from my childhood was The Little Engine that Could. I remember that my mother’s mother always read that one to me!! Here’s my other four….
In the Night Kitchen – Maurice Sendak – I always loved to read this one to the kids and I think that the controversy over the nudity of Mickey is ridiculous!
Strega Nona by Tomie dePaola – I always enjoyed the mayhem created by Strega Nona helper Big Anthony when he does what he is not supposed to do!
The Tale of Mr. Jeremy Fisher – Beatrix Potter – I had to include a Beatrix Potter book on my list I think we wore out all the copies of the many books that we had!! This one was always a favorite but they are all great!!
Runaway Bunny – Margaret Wise Brown – Now this pick was a little controversial only in that when my wife told me that it was one of the books I had on my list. I didn’t believe her. I thought that the fifth book on my list was Ezra Jack Keats’ Maggie and the Pirate and it wasn’t until she showed me my list that I believed her!! But I’m glad it is on the list because it’s a great book that talks of parental love!!
Other books included Ezra Jack Keats. The Snowy Day from Elizabeth. Gregory the Terrible Eater and The Tomten from Nick and Noisy Nora, Max’s Toys, and The Tale of Miss Moppet another Beatrix Potter favorite!
So Oliver we hope you enjoy these books, which are the start of a library that I know will get bigger and bigger, because you know Oliver, you can never have too many books!!
Now the reason that this all came to mind today is that I was looking at videos of Doc Watson’s music because today is his birthday (video to come soon) and while I was thinking about Doc – the other folksinger that came to mind was the late ( I hate to write that) Pete Seeger and I went and found this video taken from the show Reading Rainbow with Pete telling his tale of Abiyoyo!!1
Postscript, 2025: My daughter recently read In the Night Kitchen to my granddaughter Emma — and, true to form, Emma didn’t bat an eye at Mickey’s lack of clothes! Some things age better than the headlines.
