Let’s just get this out of the way..my cousins are great. I have the privilege of knowing most of them quite well. It was so nice to grow up with some of them..wouldn’t trade it for anything.

For example, I have fond memories of days and nights out at “The Farm” that I would never want to forget. Eating weird food, playing with the cats, balling hay, working with cousin Jonathan, FREEZING TO DEATH in the winter, playing music (my sisters got to do this), trying to get out of doing work for my Uncle Tim…I could go on for hours…

I also have recent memories with my cousins Missy & Eunice sitting with us in the hospital when my Mother breathed her last saying…”We’ll see you soon in paradise Aunt Nancy”. Just thinking of that gets me emotional, but this I also don’t want to forget.

Some other great memories I have are hanging with my “Florida” cousins: Dara, Niki, Kevin, Alexander, David, Allison, Patty & Kathy. Playing in the water at Uncle George’s beach house. Having dinner at Aunt Pris’ and Dan’s house. Going to Alex’s football game with my crazy Uncle George.

I have a great memory from around 1977 when I was 5.  Cousins Debbie and Russ visited us after getting married and said they would take me with them when they left…they didn’t and I was heart-broken. I learned that day that people don’t always mean what they say. He was joking of course. I get it NOW. It’s funny NOW.

My cousin Mark used to send my letters (remember those?) from Bethel back in the 80’s. It was so cool having a cousin in NY that would correspond with me.

To think that all of these memories happened before the first reunion in 1992. It seems after that we all started getting older, getting married, moving further apart. Unfortunately, we only see each other at the reunions, and sadly, funerals. Speaking of funerals, I think I speak for everyone when I say it made it easier to get through all that pain knowing that my cousins were there.