31 Comments

I’m driving back to Atlanta today and binge listening to this. This chapter is so haunting. I can’t imagine how you felt listening to these obscure, dusty albums of songs written by The father, you never knew. The downside of listening in the app is the flat, emotionless voice of the AI.

Expand full comment

If I were brave enough, I'd have a go at narrating, but I'm afraid it would be worse that flat AI. :)

Expand full comment

Darn interesting. I stumbled onto you via Nadia. You might like this about building our cabin. https://westonpparker.substack.com/p/between-two-trees

Expand full comment

As a songwriter I always put a measure of truth in a song

with a generous helping of specific lies. But the final product, emotion, and tone, is true to my heart.

I hear a frailed banjo strummed and picked with first finger and thumb on the drone string, not bluegrass Scruggs style. A traditionalist?

A writer's songs in many ways are their children.

You have three albums, with liner notes, that you can hang on to.

Be well.

Expand full comment

Yes, a traditionalist indeed. And also they style I was drawn to as well when I first picked up the banjo decades ago.

Thank you for your thoughtful reflection. Hanging on to all those notes and lyrics as if they were long-lost siblings. ;)

Expand full comment

Still have the banjo?

Expand full comment

I do. I have mine... and his. ;)

Expand full comment

Play much?

Expand full comment

Not anymore. It’s been 8 years....

Expand full comment

She Talks All Night and Day

https://youtu.be/TDjJ_Mx3Avs?si=mdm6CUAbMaLgqVMv

I've got a little dog goes

Ruh, ruh, ruh

Ruh, ruh, ruh

Ruh, ruh, ruh

I've got a little dog goes

Ruh, ruh, ruh

And she talks all night and day

She wags her tail and

Moves her mouth

Moves her mouth

Moves her mouth

She wags her tail and

Moves her mouth

And she talks all night and day

Well I'm gonna get some

Big ear plugs

Big ear plugs

Big ear plugs

Well I'm gonna get some

Big ear plugs

Cause she talks all night and day

Well I don't know what she

Talks about

Talks about

Talks about

Well I don't know what she

Talks about

Cause she talks all night and day

Sometimes she gets

On my nerves

On my nerves

On my nerves

Sometimes she gets

On my nerves

And she talks all night and day

Well I love my little dog

Any way

Any way

Any way

Well I love my little dog

Any way

Though she talks all night and day

Expand full comment

Are you able yet?

Expand full comment

Birtha. 💔

Expand full comment

Right?!!!!

Expand full comment

I wonder how often anyone else looking for a lost parent could find so much of their soul after death, I think almost never... there is serendipity in your findings Kimberly, though I can imagine the searching through lyrics and poems much is diluted, you still have the ability to hold onto a part of him, your father.

Perhaps he took poetic licence in order to hold onto his solitary life? Or, perhaps, it was the literary outcome of regret?

And still I wait with hammering heart and wondering for a reply from siblings... 🤍

Expand full comment

It is quite astounding... almost as if he's reaching through time and space with little bread crumbs. I cherish each one of them. (Though the whole loaf would've been oh so comforting and sweet! ;)

I'll give that hammering heart of yours a warm bath. The title of next week's chapter is: WELCOME

Expand full comment

There is some so magical about you being able to get closer to knowing your father through his music. Truly beautiful.

Also I must say you have a real way with words, there were many great lines, but this one especially stood out: “ ...tracking clues that lead to the vulnerable prey of my own identity.”

Thanks Kimberly and Happy New Year :)

Expand full comment

You're so right... getting to know someone only through their art has its own unique set of rewards and challenges. Intimate but distant. Compelling but also puzzling. So happy you're still enjoying the unfolding of this story as I live it! And happy new year to you as well friend.

Expand full comment

I love getting to know Charlie better bc of your very committed research (and falling in love a bit w his very talented, compassionate persona). Thanks,Kim. ❤️

Expand full comment

You're welcome mom!

Expand full comment

This is wildly haunting. What an extraordinary set of artifacts, revealing so many narrative insights, clues, and then even more wonderings. It's riveting, but also harrowing.💜

Expand full comment

Yeh, this trail of artifacts is quite stunning... especially since he disappeared before ye ol' internets. Bread crumbs from beyond!

Expand full comment

“I feel so much resonance, like an echo finally returning after a lifetime of waiting.

I know that man. He is the stranger I’ve known forever, living inside of me.” Again, no words of my own. Just emotions and silence. Gorgeous.

Also BATED BREATH AGAIN FOR NEXT WEEK!!! I need to know if the siblings answered!!! Waaaa!

Also can we talk about how sick he was on the banjo?! WOW!!!

Expand full comment

Haha! Oh of course you love the banjo! While l can claim to love the banjo too, I definitely did NOT inherit his mad skills. :)

Hint for next week's chapter. It's titled: WELCOME. xo

Expand full comment

“I know that man” ... beautiful line

Expand full comment

Art tells us so much about each other as much as about ourselves. Intuitively we feel some things, and it seems your father felt a certain something too. How extraordinary and aching. Love and strength to you in the new year! 😘💕

Expand full comment

I suspect you know a lot about those hidden intuitions Nadia... they present themselves as creative compulsions, though often void of logic or reason. I do enjoy thinking that my father had those too! Love and big hugs to you in this new year friend!

Expand full comment

Indeed. They may seem illogical, but there's intuitive logic that later on reveals itself. I sometimes go back to what I've written and go "Aha. Well, that makes sense now!" :-* <3

Expand full comment

Touching piece 💙

Expand full comment

Thank you for reading Remy. I appreciate you here!

Expand full comment

I’ll check it out Weston!

Expand full comment