Three Perspectives

This year, for a few months, we are 56, 57 and 59 years of age; two males and one female, all born in Seattle, Washington. We are the 2nd generation of a four generation extended family with seven children and three grandchildren among us. One of our parents is first generation American, born to Norwegian immigrants. The other has ancestry and others who fought in the Revolutionary War and settled Oregon when it was still a territory. Our spouses, children and grandchildren are Christians and Jews.

We’ve attended Ivy League schools and state universities with six degrees among us. Two of us are married and one of us is a widower. Growing up we lived on both coasts and in the middle. As adults we’ve experienced things all families face – death, divorce, and assorted medical issues including high blood pressure, high cholesterol and low self esteem.

As we three siblings share our thoughts about work, family and life in general we realize how much we have in common, but also how different we have become. It was pretty easy to figure out that our common roots account for many of our common habits, styles and ideas. But we’re also beginning to realize and discuss how much our lives also represent and reflect our generation and our age.