Sadly my grandparents were either far away (father’s parents, both a handful of nonsense) or dead (mother’s mother died when I was 6, father when my mother was 8).

They are/were silent generation, but born just before the baby boom. So despite both growing up in pretty bad poverty, they lived in a time of prosperity that is hard to comprehend now. Probably why they could afford to adopt a foreign born child in the early 70s, along with many other fiscal excesses.

I’m happy with my family of choice. Wife of 37 years, wonderful granddaughter who got married this past weekend and some truly odd choices like my wife’s ex-husband’s estranged second wife who we sort of adopted into close family.

Also, it was my aunt (mother’s best friend from childhood) who raised me. She lived with us from the time my mother’s mother was dying until I left for college. I’m still very close with her and dread her loss as I see health issues mounting.