By David Milo Pearson

For the Austin Daily Herald

Tommy Lindsey is key on basic concepts: “house,” “tree,” “cars” and “mommy.”

But for the first time, on June 2, Lindsey got to meet his great-grandfather, 102-year-old Oakland, Minnesota, resident Ed Petersen, a retired hog farmer.

Besides sharing DNA, the two have much more in common. Lindsey was born on Petersen’s 100th birthday in May 2016.

Tommy’s parents, Capt. Matt and Katrina Lindsey, flew out of Honolulu, where Matt has been serving the last two years as a U.S. Air Force flight surgeon, the week before with their five children. Katrina is the oldest daughter of Petersen’s 11th child, Linnea.

When Petersen turned 100 in 2016, he told several family members he didn’t think he’d make it to his next birthday.

Petersen told granddaughter Katrina that he has lived a good, full life.

David Milo Pearson is a free lance writer who writes on demographics, economics, religion, social issues and other subjects.