(Not-Norwegian) Bachelor Farmer

This is my Uncle Tom.  He's a little like the famous Norwegian bachelor farmers on Garrison Keillor's Prairie Home Companion, except that he's German rather than Norwegian.  He decided early on that marrying was NOT for him and lives and farms alone.  Happily.  He has a dog.  He's very tall, and when we were little my younger brother spent a lot of time sitting on Uncle Tom's head, checking out the view from up near the ceiling.  

Whenever I go home, Uncle Tom always takes time to come and visit.  Mr. Sneaky Pants had a great time attacking him with snowballs on an insanely bright and sunny day.  (Uncle Tom is squinting in the photographs because the sunlight reflected off the snow was nearly blinding in it's brightness).  For old time's sake, I let my kids crawl up on Uncle Tom's head.  It was a bit crazy.  In the long run, however, we didn't even have to call the chiropractor.  

Uncle Tom is a no frills kind of guy.  The kind of guy who patches his socks and likes leftovers.  He's long asked all of his nieces and nephews for financial contributions to his retirement fund.  For many years, my cousins and I have been sending him our spare change.  Now that I think of that, I probably need to make a contribution.  I haven't sent him anything for the past few years.