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Dec. 12th, 2007 11:26 pmThe other day we attended a birthday party for my Uncle Benny. He just turned ninety.
Benny the Bairn, Stevenston, Ayrshire, Scotland, 1918.
Benny 89 years later, with second-youngest great-granddaughter.
He's my father's older brother, hence Chief of the Clan (unfortunately, thanks to one young granddaughter unclear on the concept, this title is more usually rendered as "Chief Clam.")
Uncle Benny is vigorous. He had no trouble blowing out the candles (nine of them, one per decade).
A very impressive number of relatives was assembled in Naperville: cousins and cousins-of-cousins, many of whom I hadn't seen in decades, plus spouses and children I met for the first time. I got to hear lots of stories about Rochester and New York City and the Auld Country. It was a truly grand occasion.
( Digression on Higgins men )
I've recently seen, for the first time, photos of my grandpa Willy as a young man. I only knew him in his white-haired years. In these younger photos, it's striking how much he resembles my dad. And my brother John. And my late cousin Mike. And my cousin Bill. And me.
Benny the Bairn, Stevenston, Ayrshire, Scotland, 1918.
Benny 89 years later, with second-youngest great-granddaughter.
He's my father's older brother, hence Chief of the Clan (unfortunately, thanks to one young granddaughter unclear on the concept, this title is more usually rendered as "Chief Clam.")
Uncle Benny is vigorous. He had no trouble blowing out the candles (nine of them, one per decade).
A very impressive number of relatives was assembled in Naperville: cousins and cousins-of-cousins, many of whom I hadn't seen in decades, plus spouses and children I met for the first time. I got to hear lots of stories about Rochester and New York City and the Auld Country. It was a truly grand occasion.
( Digression on Higgins men )
I've recently seen, for the first time, photos of my grandpa Willy as a young man. I only knew him in his white-haired years. In these younger photos, it's striking how much he resembles my dad. And my brother John. And my late cousin Mike. And my cousin Bill. And me.
