family pix

I'm going through pix tonight... lots of them that need sorting and caring for... Here's one I got recently (from???? I think from my cousin Dort) of our Grandpa J, Mom's dad. He has 12 living children (2 sons died- 1 as a newborn, 1 as a young adult), all married and heaps of grandkids- no idea how many of us there are now- over 60, most of us married... the only thing I know for sure is there have been no new ones for several years now... there are lots of great-grands... and at least 1 great-great-grand. Grandpa's nickname is 'Kivel'- and when the Kivels get together- it's a great and large time. Looking at this pic brings it home forcefully that my ageless (to me) Grandpa J is, after all, aging. He's amazing though. He learned to rollerblade after he turned 80 and still zips around on his 2-wheel bike (no 'old-fogey 3-wheeler' for him!); he spends part of each winter in FL; he loves the Bible, poetry (sometimes writes his own, often quotes favorites) and writing letters... and his family. He was married only once- to Grandma, a union that lasted 68 years and 10 months; he cared for Grandma in her last years when she suffered from dementia and could do less and less for herself. When I was with the 2 of them last, Grandma was 'home' if Grandpa was there- no matter where they were; if Grandpa was not there, she'd say Don't you think it's time to go home now?- even when she was home. He's unique as can be and pretty special...

And another pretty special family member... my brother Paul. He was my first best friend and my first sparring partner. It was Oh So Special just to have him around to look at and talk to and joke with! That's him reading Mark Twain in the kitchen during their visit... he's always loved to read and had pretty good taste! And he left that book here for me- a massively fat volume of many of Twain's works.

I have a ton of pix to sort through and want to get more posted eventually... this'll do for now.

Family- we need our family. Do all you can to keep the peace in your own family... they are so so special. There is no one like your family. xo