Distant Thoughts

As the convertible top magically lifted and then disappeared behind us, the radio played loudly. My friend George Kachoogian and I were headed out in his 2010 Mustang gold convertible for our latest adventure. It seemed fitting for two old guys to drive a “hot car” to learn about Jersey lore and the popular music that’s been the soundtrack of our lives for many years. Our destination was the…

It was a family reunion of sorts when we connected with cousin Silvia Romanini at Bryant Park in New York City last Sunday. Our visitors from Italy.(l to r) Paolo, Roberta, Samuel and Silvia She was with her boyfriend Samuel and his parents. It had been been 13 years since Mary Ann and I last visited the entire Romanini family in Parma, Italy. And, it was 9 years since we became Silvia’s…

It was January 7, 2017, near midnight when we started. The plan was to walk with a Revolutionary War re-enactment group from Trenton to Princeton to reenact the famous Battle of Princeton. What that actually meant to a crazy group of long distance walkers remained to be seen. Battle Briefing As we approached the Old Barracks of Trenton there was an eerie silence. The old wooden two story…

Let me be upfront: I was there on August 28, 1965, but I remember little about it. What I do remember is that it was, and still is, the strangest concert I’ve ever attended. So, I wondered, Is it possible to recall a vague memory that happened 60 years ago and make sense of it today? Could research reconnect sleeping neurons and help me understand what really happened on that one strange…

On the 10th day of my New England Reunion Bike Tour, I was waiting out the rain in Lee, Massachusetts. I set out for my last meal in town before I was to leave the next morning. This area is known for its history and its embrace of mystery and new-age trends. Here’s what happens when my course collides with local forces. The Salmon Run Fish House. It sounded out of place here in Western…

Like running, protesting requires practice, discipline, and belief that your effort matters—even when you feel alone. After joining six protests over the past two months, the experience finally started to feel familiar. I began to understand what it was all about. There’s a reason, a rhythm, and even a reward to protesting that I hadn’t grasped before. Still, something instinctual pushed me into…

Visiting Auschwitz was a profoundly emotional, yet strangely analytical experience. Your senses and mind struggle to comprehend the unimaginable atrocities that unfolded there. Being physically present in such a place heightens your awareness in ways no history lesson ever could. But sometimes, a single image can evoke emotions almost as powerfully. Since that visit, I’ve often felt haunted by…

Walking solo through history and discovering what's changed over the years. Follow Neil King, Jr on his journey from Washington DC to NYC on foot.

The following is a review of a 2023 book by Neil King, Jr, about his very personal solo walk from Washington DC to New York City in 2021. It was a book that I related to very personally. I've done many long walks in past years and lately have changed most of my serious personal journeys to long bike rides. But I have to admit the feel of pushing one's self, even as I get older is still alluring…

Our trio of American explorers in Poland ends with a somber visit to the Auschwitz-Berkenau museum and grounds. Truly a place of shock, silence and wonder. We all wonder if this could possibly happen again.

We decided to add a visit to the Memorial and Museum Auschwitz-Birkenau as a final point of interest on our genealogical trip to Poland. It was about an hour and a half cab ride north of Krakow. As you can imagine, touring a concentration camp is not a pleasant task, but it was an important one for a trip themed around life and death. All of our sources suggested purchasing tour tickets well in…

It was tome for our family research to be tested here in Poland. We visit several towns and villages, mix with the locals and feel what its like to be a detective.