Interviews with same-sex adult members of three-generation family lines can dramatize similarities and differences by age and generation in ways of thinking and feeling. An analysis of interviews with 157 families examined the health of the grandparent, the happiness of each of the three generational representatives, and family salience. Twelve stem questions designed to elicit free-flowing comments were asked of each family member and responses were rated on specific criteria for happy, neutral, or unhappy appropriate to response. The findings indicated a low incidence of poor health among the grandparents. Parents and their children tended to receive similar affect ratings, although this varied by sex. For the grandparents, poor health was associated with unhappiness, although there was no significant correlation between health of the grandparents and the happiness of their children or grandchildren. There was no evidence for any relation between the health of the oldest generation and family connectedness. Results did not show any relation between health, family salience, and affect, although many of the middle-aged were taking care of aging parents. The results suggest that prevailing long-term affect determines response to events such as illness. (NRB)