You know how, you pick up an orange, peel it, and then find out it's the perfect orange? Juicy, flavorful, and sweet like candy? So that's what an orange is supposed to be! That's what life with Karen was. I would say to her, from time to time, that I pitied other husbands. It was a young, infatuating love that never grew old. So that's what all those romance films were trying to capture.
Then it was gone. For me, it would be an outrageous crime to just "get on" with my life. 36 years of the most amazing love. Nope. I just can't not do something to honour such a love (I think the double negative works well here). Glass half empty or half full? Definitely half full! Sure, I would have loved more years with Karen, but I that's just wishful thinking. I have to be grateful for those 36 years of intense love that we did share. That is who We were.
Karen. Karen Sue Groat. In case you didn't know her: 5'3", long blonde hair, sparkling green eyes, cute, smart, hard working, fearless, selfless, full of faith and ever-optimistic, devastatingly feminine, with the voice to match. Fiercely devoted to her two children, ever in love with her husband, relentlessly devoted to her cats. A reputation for putting the concerns of others before her own. Unafraid to share her confidence in Jesus with others, unafraid of the transition from this life to the next, and, by the observation of the medical staff that was caring for her, kind to others until the very moment her heart beat its last. In all of this she was Queen of my heart, and, truly, words fail to describe the phenomena it was to live by her side as "husband". To her memory this album is dedicated, to her honour, a meal prepared for her of her favourite things, seasoned to her taste. Karen my love, how could I have not done this for you?
In case you don't know him, about her husband: 5'11": black hair (getting grayer all the time), blue-green eyes, gentle, soft spoken, introspective, hopelessly and foolishly driven by passion, a lifetime of devotion to music. Perpetually limited by self-doubt. Artistic from childhood and encouraged to be so by his parents until they discovered that being artistic is much like having a chronic disease, financially. A weirdo Christian in love with Indian music and Jazz. A man of faith who has held on to Jesus by his fingernails. Often timid, a little reclusive. Husband of an amazing wife who forced him to be a better person. A man whose God rescued him from a darkness that would have, most assuredly, destroyed him.
In case you don't know them, L'Amour Eternel Ensemble: a gathering of some 18 musicians and singers that have worked together to make this album possible. There are limits to what I can do, what I should do, and these are the artists who have rounded out the vision. Most of them constitute a musical family of mine who have shared in the making of music together, and is often the case, done so for decades. I chose this name ( the Love Eternal Ensemble) as an inclusive title for everyone involved. As much a band as Steely Dan, if you get my meaning. . .
My name is Bob Groat, and this is my recording project in the memory of my wife Karen. I have been a multi-instrumentalist since high school, primarily as a bassist, sitarist, flutist, with some strum stick and other miscellaneous instruments tossed into the mix. Music has been my life. I met God and Karen through it, and I repair and build instruments for a living, be it ever-so meager.