Category: Life

Evening thoughts : “Navajo Rug” – Grandson Oliver and his Great-Grandparents Clarke!

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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 ….

Yesterday,  we went to Surf City for the traditional July 4th potluck picnic with my wife’s mother’s side of the family. It had been canceled from July 4th, because of the weather.  This was the first time in many years, that most of my children could attend, well, all could have attended on Friday, unfortunately my oldest son Nick couldn’t make it on Saturday because of his work schedule. But the young man that everyone wanted to meet Oliver,could make it, and he didn’t disappoint. My wife took a series of pictures of Oliver with her Uncle James Browne. Thinking about it, Jim is really the only one of our aunts and uncles except for Kathy’s Uncle Roy, who lives in California. So here is Oliver with his grand Uncle……

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Yes, Oliver flirted with several of the women, but he was entranced by only one thing……. the iPhone…..

 

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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……..

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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

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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…”


Yesterday we went to Surf City for the traditional July 4th potluck picnic with my wife’s mother’s side of the family. It had been rescheduled from the 4th because of the weather. This was the first time in many years that most of my children could attend. Unfortunately, Nick couldn’t make it on Saturday because of his work schedule. But the young man that everyone wanted to meet—Oliver—was there, and he didn’t disappoint.

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:


Oliver with Uncle Jim

Yes, Oliver flirted with several of the women, but he was entranced by only one thing… the iPhone!


Oliver and 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:


Elizabeth and Ruth

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!

Musical Thoughts about that Parent Child Relationship (Videos)

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Life – Roots & Leaves

Stories from family life, music memories, and the generational journey


Oliver 3

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

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Abiyoyo - Pete Seeger

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

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.