The year 1998 has been an eventful and joyous year for the Harlan Family. Besides Isaac's Bar Mitzvah, our family undertook a summer vacation to Southern Utah and Northern Arizona. National Parks such as Bryce, Zion, Canyon Land, Monument Valley and Canyon De Chelly were very impressive. At the Grand Canyon, we undertook at 7 hour hike (half way into the canyon). Notwithstanding the initial (inevitable) adolescent moaning, a lasting memory was engraved on youthful minds. The entire trip was unanimously declared to have been a definitive success for the whole family.

Our miniature wire-hair dachshund LUCY was a naughty girl one autumn evening. In fact, she became virtually suicidal when she attempted to devour an entire chocolate-pecan tort which Iris had left on the dining room table. We never imagined that a burning dachsi-desire would cause her to (temporarily) sprout wings to propel her onto that table top. With her short legs she usually can't even make it on the chair let alone the table. I am happy to report that Aaron caught her half way into the act chocolate-snouted and we were able to save our dachsi-daughter after consulting with the vet about what to do.

Isaac is spending eighth grade in the newly renovated Jefferson Junior High School and Aaron is a Junior at Mount Lebanon High School. As different as the are, both boys are doing very well in school. Aside from their studies, Isaac is concentrating on piano while Aaron is learning to drive and beginning to prepare for his goal to play Senior Varsity Baseball. Iris is full of inspiration about new possibilities in her job at Parent & Child Guidance Center as well as newly emerging career objectives. It is great to see her level of enthusiasm about continuing her education and setting ever higher goals.

Besides managing the warehousing business, Chris has become involved in a second business opportunity which involves the development of short line railroads and properties. It is an exciting and very promising extension of his business activities. For Chris, the highlight of 1998 may well have been the opportunity to davven Shacharit Services at Beth El for Rosh HaShanah.

The grand finale for 1998 was the celebration of Iris's parents' 50 wedding anniversary. Thanks to Iris's preparations, the boys contribution and Chris's Yiddish songs, it turned out as a truly magnificent event in honor of an extraordinary couple, Gert and Merv Mallet.

On June 13, 1998 our second son Isaac had his Bar Mitzvah at our family's spiritual home, BETH EL Synagogue in the South Hills of Pittsburgh. Isaac's Torah Portion was Beha'alotcha. Everyone present agreed that he was not only exceedingly well prepared but moreover, he chanted his Haftorah with inspiration and musicality. His older brother Aaron celebrated his Bar Mitzvah three years earlier and on Isaac's occasion he supported his brother by chanting one Aliah of Torah. Nu, what else could we want ?!

It was particularly thrilling to have Chris's sister Sabine and his mother (from Germany) here for this event. Even his American Host parents, Ben and Kathy Ersland made a special trip from Arizona.

Having benefitted from a teenage exchange program myself, Iris and I had agreed that it would be most appropriate for us to put this special gift back into circulation by becoming a host family ourselves. As it turned out, we were approached in 1994 to host a boy from Germany long before we had planned to undertake this venture. But when we read Tamir's profile we just knew that this was meant to be. Initially, he was supposed to stay for only half a year, however, it turned out to become a whole year. Not only did we enjoy having him live with us, we also met his lovely parents Avi and Meira on several occasions and very much value our lasting connection to Tamir and his family. At present, Tamir studies architecture in Aachen. He has his own WEB PAGE. It is funny and slick, check it out. You can also reach him directly from here via E-mail.

This article was prompted by a music journal retrospective of the life and work of my grandfather PETER HARLAN. My grandfather had become an internationally known instrument builder of lutes, harpsichords and gambas as well as Early Music performance expert. Without a doubt, the lasting legacy of his pioneer work in the field is the rebirth and continuing growth in popularity of the Baroque and Renaissance recorders. My contribution to this retrospective was to provide a personal glimpse of my Grosspapa.

Amongst my ancestors are quite a few notable personalities. Since I was fortunate to have spent quite some time in his presence when I was a little "Enkel" (grandchild) I am happy to give an account of one of these Harlans.

The ties that connect and bind a family throughout time and space can sometimes be quite amazing. Let me provide a few examples:

I had always known that my father, grandfather (Peter) and great-grandfather (Walter) bore a stunning resemblance to each other. Certainly, this is not surprising but I was impressed by the extent when I came across two pictures in which my father and my great-grandfather had similar poses. Though my great-grandfather was relatively older in this picture the uncanny resemblence is nonetheless laughably obvious. Some Harlans might say that you just don't mess with a good recipe. I leave it up to you to decide.

I can cite another example of resemblence on my mothers side. The infant on this picture is my grandmother (mother's mother) sitting on the lap of my great-grandmother. Leaning in from the right is my great-great-grandmother and behind them her mother, my triple-fold great-grandmother. I consider myself very fortunate to have come across this unique photograph.