not far from the tree

there's an old adage that goes something like " the apple doesn't fall far from the tree".  my nephew and niece along with their two boys are vacationing in south carolina this week. i've just finished reading mark's thoughts by way of his blog. my mind is being flooded with thoughts of another very special person much like mark. mark and i have a very special relationship. aside from the blood relationship, mark and i have become the best of friends. i had a very similar relationship with someone very much like mark many years ago. as with mark, i became very close with this person as well. this person had all of the same qualities that mark possesses except one, they didn't possess mark's ability to spell. this person lived in the age prior to computers and spell check. as with mark, i have vivid memories of many conversations with this person. this person knew mark, and spoke with much pride at the mention of mark's name. this person could not have imagined that his grandson would have turned out to be so much like himself.