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You know, I've noticed something over the years; we don't really see John's parents all that much, do we? The last time they figured in the story line was say, ohhhhhhhhhh, eight years ago when ChooChoo Johnny hit the big five-oh. After that, nothing. We see his sister and niece every summer when he sends a child back to the farm to get their attitude adjusted but his Mom and Dad are no-shows. We never see them interact with his children or grandchildren in any substantive way, either. That says something to me; they're ashamed of him. They may be sort of proud that he's made his mark in the world but, other than that, they don't want much to do with him. What little we've seen of them suggests that they may be old fashioned in their vision of proper gender roles but they're not arrogant about it. In fact, they're not arrogant about anything which is why they didn't care too much when Bev took over the farm. Unlike their son, they're humble and willing to change their opinions as circumstances warrant. They also remember that financial and material success isn't everything. They tried teaching John that but he didn't have it him to listen. All they see when they look at him is a well-off failure with all the imbecile vanity, bug-eyed greed and smug, loutish selfishness they couldn't rid him of. As for his heirs and assigns, they're just more of the same.