Mark Bialczak


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A family resemblance can sneak up and floor you

April 10, 2014 7:18 am

Sometimes the pieces to complete a startling vision sit pages apart in the scrapbook of your mind.

For all my life, I’ve been comfortable with the premise that out of us three kids, my youngest sister, Dory, had the most family resemblance to either of our parents.

My sister Fran, the middle one, kind of looks like mom Dolores.

Me, the eldest, sort of looks like Dolores’ father, George.

Dory looks like dad Frank.

Looking good, baby sister.

Looking good, baby sister.

I admired this glamour shot of Dory, younger than me by a full decade, when she posted it recently on her Facebook page.

Earlier this week, Frannie found and posted on her Facebook page an old black-and-white shot of Frank, back in the days when I was an only child.

I figure him to be in his early to mid-20s, which would mean this picture was taken in Brooklyn, N.Y., a couple years after I was born.

Hello Frank. Not Sinatra, Bialczak.

Hello Frank. Not Sinatra, Bialczak.

First thought: Man, my father was a handsome dude back in his day.

Second thought: Hey, my father kind of reminds me of Frank Sinatra. No wonder my dad passed along his love of Ol’ Blue Eyes’ music to me.

Third thought, and the one that knocked the other two out of my mind: Dory looks exactly like our father. The eyes! Oh, those blue eyes.

Are there resemblances in your family that make you think, wow? Does somebody in your family look like somebody famous?

Posted by markbialczak

Categories: Life

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34 Responses to “A family resemblance can sneak up and floor you”

  1. Scarily enough I look more and more like my mum – and we are nearly forty years apart in age. It frightens the life out of me that I can see an eighty plus year old in myself!!

    Like

    By lundygirl on April 11, 2014 at 3:03 pm

    1. Yes, but you have 40 years to grow into it as comfortably as you mum has, Rachel. Rest easy, the mirror will be happy.

      Like

      By markbialczak on April 11, 2014 at 3:04 pm

      1. I shall do as you say! My mum is a lovely lady, so it won’t be bad to be like her in forty years time.

        Like

        By lundygirl on April 11, 2014 at 3:09 pm

  2. I love the photograph of your ‘baby’ or little sister, Dory! She is gorgeous! As far as your Dad is concerned, a real ‘looker’ and I think you all probably have a mixture which is harder to see, at your age. But I would compare a black and white photo of you, in high school or your twenties, and I bet you were handsome and had more similarity than you realize, Mark! Family resemblances are wonderful but we still tease my youngest brother, a blonde from a dark haired Dad and an auburn haired Mom. Randy and I call Rich, ‘the milkman’s son (or sometimes to vary the theme…’the postman’s son!) He really channels my Grandpa, born in Sweden! Take it easy, are you sore from golfing? Smiles, Robin

    Like

    By reocochran on April 10, 2014 at 7:17 pm

    1. Thank you for all the compliments on my family, Robin. Dory and Dad really have the same eyes. Also, you brother Rich should be proud he has the Sweden genes in your family.

      Like

      By markbialczak on April 10, 2014 at 11:54 pm

  3. I found a picture of my father long before he was a father. And he, in my opinion, resembled the equally aged Elvis. Dad was a looker he was. 😉

    Like

    By Chatter Master on April 10, 2014 at 5:39 pm

    1. Anyone who resembles Elvis, yes, that is so, Colleen.

      Like

      By markbialczak on April 10, 2014 at 5:43 pm

  4. I have a subscription to ancestry.com.
    It scares me.
    I avoid it.
    Great post.
    I will get back to you.

    Like

    By LAMarcom on April 10, 2014 at 3:19 pm

    1. Figure it out, Lance, and let me know the answers.

      Like

      By markbialczak on April 10, 2014 at 3:22 pm

  5. It’s amazing how traits are passed down. It’s not shocking, but it is pretty fascinating. My maternal grandfather and I look very, very similar. My brother and my father… looking at their pictures as they both grew up… uncanny.

    Not too long ago, a relative of mine said I look like actor, Tyrone Power. http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000061/

    Like

    By Christopher S. Malone on April 10, 2014 at 2:00 pm

    1. I think you do resemble Tyrone Power, which sure beats resembling the Eiffel Tower. Just kidding. You do resemble that swashbuckling actor of yore, Chris.

      Like

      By markbialczak on April 10, 2014 at 2:35 pm

      1. Your quick comments are something to adore,
        The on- lines, containing the rhymes,
        have ability to prevent the snores.

        Oh, how I’d wish to swashbuckle,
        But to watch me act will not attract
        a fair maiden without a chuckle.

        However, it’s neither here nor there
        ‘Tis another day, with or without dismay
        and vibrantly shining for those who care.

        Like

        By Christopher S. Malone on April 10, 2014 at 2:46 pm

      2. You win today’s outstanding comment poem contest Chris, hands-down. I love it!

        Like

        By markbialczak on April 10, 2014 at 2:49 pm

  6. great pics mark, and yes it is amazing, isn’t it? one of my grandsons looks exactly like a male version of me as a baby, my middle daughter and one of my sisters look exactly like one of my sisters and on and on. i love it )

    Like

    By ksbeth on April 10, 2014 at 12:39 pm

    1. It is a great thing for all of us, Beth, to have that special connection that is obvious at sight! Cool about your grandson looking like you as a baby!

      Like

      By markbialczak on April 10, 2014 at 2:38 pm

  7. Great story. And Dad was cute. 🙂 We all walk and talk the same in our family.

    Like

    By Audrey Dawn - Oldest Daughter Redheaded Sister on April 10, 2014 at 10:26 am

    1. The talking and walking thing, Audrey, now I want to surreptitiously follow your family on a walk somewhere and see and watch it naturally occur! Thanks for the compliment to my dad, too.

      Like

      By markbialczak on April 10, 2014 at 2:41 pm

      1. I’m serious, we really do. You are welcome on a walk anytime, Mark.

        Like

        By Audrey Dawn - Oldest Daughter Redheaded Sister on April 10, 2014 at 3:35 pm

      2. I feel accepted. Thank you, Audrey. And I do believe that you walk and talk alike in your family.

        Like

        By markbialczak on April 10, 2014 at 3:53 pm

  8. Quite the handsome family! It seems like the women on my mom’s side resembled Elizabeth Taylor. My grandmother, aunt, mother and myself were constantly told we looked like Liz! Not bad, huh? 🙂

    Like

    By brickhousechick on April 10, 2014 at 10:16 am

    1. Thank you for the compliment, Mrs. Brickhouse. And now that you mention it, I do believe that one eye in your gravatar looks like Liz Taylor! Not bad, indeed.

      Like

      By markbialczak on April 10, 2014 at 2:42 pm

  9. Your mom was no fool to snag that handsome man. Looked like Leo DiCaprio to me at first. I can’t say anyone in my family looks like a famous person, but there was a time in the early 80s where my dad could pass for Father Guido Sarducci.

    Like

    By kerbey on April 10, 2014 at 10:16 am

    1. You are right about the Leo look on my dad in this photo. Good call, Kerbey. Your dad must have been a pip in the 80s to pass for Father Guido Sarducci!

      Like

      By markbialczak on April 10, 2014 at 2:43 pm

  10. Very handsome, Mark. I’m sure he did it his way.

    Like

    By merbear74 on April 10, 2014 at 9:31 am

    1. Bravo, Mer!

      Like

      By markbialczak on April 10, 2014 at 2:44 pm

      1. Thank you, thank you!

        Like

        By merbear74 on April 10, 2014 at 5:32 pm

  11. Wow, very handsome and beautiful sister. My three grown children all resemble each other, but I don’t think they look like either one of us, strange.

    Like

    By laflor5233 on April 10, 2014 at 9:23 am

    1. I like that your three look like each other, laflor. That is a good thing! Thanks for the compliments to my dad and sis.

      Like

      By markbialczak on April 10, 2014 at 2:44 pm

  12. Beautiful

    Like

    By artourway on April 10, 2014 at 8:42 am

    1. They are, K. Thank you.

      Like

      By markbialczak on April 10, 2014 at 8:45 am

      1. Love both …C

        Like

        By artourway on April 10, 2014 at 8:48 am

  13. What a great shot of Frank B! And your sister is adorable. I do see the resemblance! I’ll have to dig around for a picture of my family to post. We all look very much alike. When my dad, Frank was younger I think he looked like Elvis. Mexican Elvis. 🙂

    Like

    By Sandra on April 10, 2014 at 8:38 am

    1. I want to see you all. I do believe I recall a great shot you posted of your Frank, or Melvis, as I will call him for your particular comparison, Sandra.

      Like

      By markbialczak on April 10, 2014 at 8:44 am

      1. Melvis, I LOVE it! That is perfect!

        Like

        By Sandra on April 10, 2014 at 8:51 am

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