3-Way Capitalism?

Mom and Dad just got back to Anchorage after a trip to Florida and Indiana to visit Mom’s parents and Dad’s family, respectively, and Dad just posted his pictures with commentary. The picture of the stop sign made me laugh, and for the same reason that it amused Dad — yet another indication of just how alike we can be at times.

A picture of Dad’s brother Doug, who I haven’t seen in about three years, also caught my eye when I noticed just how much he and Dad resembled each other — something that I’ve also been noticing about my brother and I more and more as we age. Apparently the Hanscom genes run strong in our family!

It is sad to hear that, as tends to happen over the years, age is starting to catch up with some of our family. Mom’s parents will soon be moving into an assisted living facility, as Grandma is essentially blind, and Grandpa has, quite unfortunately, started to find his mental faculties declining. On Dad’s side of the family, “Uncle” Bud (my Dad’s uncle, my great-uncle) is battling liver cancer, and there are fears that the treatment may be as difficult to get through as the disease itself. However, all three of them are still getting along, and as no-one on either side of the family could deny being described as “strong willed”, I expect all three of them will continue on as best they can for as long as they can.

My cousins appear to be doing quite well, too. Eric has just graduated high school, and both Hannah and Kayt (“Katie”) are as gorgeous as ever (and I do mean gorgeous — Kayt is becoming one heck of a knockout, and she’s only thirteen…the boys don’t stand a chance).

All in all, it looks like a good trip, and while I’m not always in touch with my extended family very often, it’s always good to be able to catch up vicariously through Mom and Dad.