Visit to the parents

[Horace]

My dad is doing remarkably well, with 80% of his pancreas removed and now a type 1 diabetic. He's over 80 and has to stick himself to provide insulin several times a day. He's decided he won't do chemo again, no matter what. Hopefully the surgery was curative, but we won't know for a few months.

Had some interesting talks with my mom, going through her family history. Apparently there's a murder mystery in the family. Her dad was one of 10 siblings, and the five boys were known in the area to be a rowdy bunch. When her dad was in his mid 20s, one of his brothers (my great-uncle) got into it with some local. The local came into where my great-uncle worked and threatened to kill him, over whatever dispute it was. The details are sketchy. Then that local ended up dead that night, shot by someone. My great-uncle was convicted and spent his life in an institution, after being declared crazy in prison. My mom suspects her dad actually did it. He was always talking about killing people if he was mad at them. He really wanted to go to WW2, but they weren't taking people who had kids, and he already had kids. He cajoled and persuaded though, and eventually was allowed into the army. He was a top sharpshooter, having spent his childhood hunting, but he also owned a cafe, and was a short order cook there. They made him a cook in the army, maybe because he had kids and they didn't want him on the front line. He was in the 304th infantry regiment, and participated in the battle of the bulge. I don't think he ever saw much, if any, combat. He joined the army to kill Japs, I don't think Germans were much on his mind. He never talked about his experiences over there in Europe after he came back. But the military is the last time he ever had a boss. He owned his own businesses for the rest of his life, and he did pretty well.

This is him and his wife, my grandma. Reminds me of Bonnie and Clyde. I think this was in the 1950s.

[Axtremus]

Thanks for sharing, @Horace. I hope your father will continue to get better. It’s also hard on the mom when she has to take care of a cancer surviving dad, so my best wishes to your mother as well.

[Horace]

@axtremus My mom is a nurse so she's pretty good with that stuff. She helps him with his insulin shots every day. She's in pretty good health and is slightly younger than my dad. She is realistic about how her last years are going to play out.

[Loki]

You have good looking grandparents.

I imagine they would have a lot to say about white privilege. Their stories are familiar.

[Copper]

That hand looks too big.

[George K]

Thanks for the update and the fascinating history, Horace.

I love old stories like that.

And, I'm glad your dad's doing OK.

[jon-nyc]

That’s awesome, my friend.

[brenda]

Horace, you have a great family story, both from your grandparents and parents. I hope your dad keeps doing so well. Your mom sounds like a real gem, too. I love that she shares the stories from prior generations. Glean all you can of those while you can. Those are wonderful, and I wish I'd heard more from my grandparents about their parents.

Yes, grandpa and grandma were very dashing. My guess as to the time of that photo would be the late 1940s, based on the clothing and hats. Your grandfather looks to have been a tall man. Is that side of the family where you get your height?

[Jolly]

Wishing your dad all the best. Your mom will make a huge difference in his care.

[Horace]

@brenda said in Visit to the parents:

Horace, you have a great family story, both from your grandparents and parents. I hope your dad keeps doing so well. Your mom sounds like a real gem, too. I love that she shares the stories from prior generations. Glean all you can of those while you can. Those are wonderful, and I wish I'd heard more from my grandparents about their parents.

Yes, grandpa and grandma were very dashing. My guess as to the time of that photo would be the late 1940s, based on the clothing and hats. Your grandfather looks to have been a tall man. Is that side of the family where you get your height?

I think there's a bit of height on both sides. I think I have at least one cousin who's taller than me, on my dad's side.

[mark]

@horace Hope the surgery was indeed curative. Very interesting history there.

[xenon]

That’s a dapper looking pair.

Hoping for the best for your dad.

[Larry]

@george-k said in Visit to the parents:

Thanks for the update and the fascinating history, Horace.

I love old stories like that.

And, I'm glad your dad's doing OK.

Same here. I enjoyed the story, and wish your father the best.