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So last night my mother passed away, she was 84 years old. She was born June 12, 1928 to John and Elva Regars Ashton. She had two brothers, James “Jimmy” was killed in WWII at the age of 19, and the other, John passed away in 1990, that same year her nephew Jim, John’s son passed away. She married my father Edward Karn in 1947 and I came along in 1951. In 1956 her father died at the age of 58 and her mother passed in 1971. In 1984 my father had a heart attack and passed at the age of 60. Through the years, her devotion to the Beverly Presbyterian Church kept her going, she was a Sunday School teacher for many years and then superintendent of the Sunday School. She was also an Elder and a Deacon and just about anything else she could be. After my father died, she worked at the Joy’s Hallmark in the Burlington Center for several years and at Easy Pour Coffee service in Burlington. After my father passed, my Uncle Kenny and his wife Flo moved in with her and they were a trip, my Uncle passed in 2003 and then my Aunt died unexpetedly in 2006. At the time Flo was taking care of my mom, after she died, Mom went to live at Riverview Estates in Riverton, where she has spent the her last years. I can’t say enough good things about the home and what they did for her, they were terrific from the top down! Read More

So about a week ago I finished reading Gretchen Rubin’s The Happiness Project and I thoroughly enjoyed the book. I think that it would be a great idea, as she suggests, to start my own Happiness Project. Like Gretchen it’s not that I’m unhappy, it’s just that I know I could be happier! Read More

Ok so sometimes as parents we live out lives vicariously through our children and this last weekend, my wife and I did that thanks to Elizabeth! As I wrote last week or so, Elizabeth is spending  four weeks studying in the homeland of her Browne, Laird and McCloskey ancestors! Well this past weekend was a free weekend and she discovered that it would only cost her 50 euros to go to London so along with a girlfriend she went to London. She spent two days sighting-seeing while staying in a hostel.  She sure looks homesick to me, eh? Here are some other shots of London. Read More

So my daughter has worked hard in school to get were she is now. And where is she now? Standing on some rocks on the Irish coast, making her mother cry! Why is her mother crying because Mom wants to be there so badly! Anyway my daughter, Elizabeth will be entering her senior year at The College of William and Mary this fall, but for four weeks this summer she will be studying Irish film and literature in two classes in Ireland! Read More

So as we were entering the Annenberg Center last Thursday night to see the documentary The Big Easy Express, my wife was trying to gauge the crowd. Something just didn’t seem right and that was all explained when the young woman who was taking the tickets looked at my ticket and said “Sir these tickets are for NEXT WEEK!” Turning to my wife I saw a confused look on her face, she had not double checked the date and just had remember it was a Thursday night in mid to late April! Anyway tonight is the night and we will be leaving shortly to go see the film. At least this time, we know where the parking garage is! Here’s hat I wrote the first time around. Read More

So  last night was one of those days when you get to feel older and it’s not your birthday! Andrew my second son turns 30 today and last night his girlfriend Meaghan threw him a wonderful party! Lot’s of great food and desserts along with great guests!   Read More

So last night “Discretion” was not the better part of valor, and in spite of the “Not as bad as the day before” pain in my left leg I ran. After the first mile, my decison was that I would just run slower and that helped I made it to the second mile and the pain was not that bad, and while the time was slower than 10 minute per mile, I continued on! I got to a point where a left hand turn would have taken me home and the run would have been a little over 3 miles – but no – Edward kept going straight and didn’t make that left until about another half mile plus! So after two eft turns I was headed home. The pain was still there but not bad. Then I had to stop at a traffic light just before the end. As I kinda ran around the lights, up one curb and back around the other, waiting for the light to change, my foot landed awkwardly and the pain went from not too bad, too not too good – no to really  hurting! So I hubbled home, and ended with a 4.4 mile run at a 10:25 pace, the only good thing was that my heard rate stayed in the low 140’s the whole way! Anyway, while the pain is not unbearable today I really know it’s there! Guess it’s time for a phone call to the Doc to refill that Naproxen!! Read More