Wednesday ... a Relative Medley

Wednesday has faithfully rolled around again and you know that means it's Wednesday Medley time with Terri, Our Friend from Florida. This week is National Cousins Day and I'm guessing everybody has some good answers to share about cousins.

1.  What can you tell us about your cousins, please, or someone who is close like a cousin? I had many cousins and we visited them frequently when I was growing up. They lived a couple of hours away from us and since my parents had been the ones to leave their hometown, I guess the burden was on them to keep up the visits. My mother’s side of the family did visit us frequently. Some of my best times were spent with cousin Charlene. 

Me with the ugly face, Charlene and her brothers, and Leonard Dean,

with Grandpa and Grandma, way out in the hills of Arkansas.

2.  Do you still see your cousins and will you contact them on National Cousins Day?  Many of my first cousins have passed, and the cousins who still live in Arkansas are even farther in distance than back then. I seldom see them, but keep up on Facebook. I am so glad for Facebook for that reason and will definitely give a shout out to them on National Cousins Day. 

3.  Terri had a favorite aunt and uncle she will tell us about.  How about you? It is a toss-up between Nancy and Gene, Sonny and Dolly, and aunt Opal. All of them were good aunts and uncles in their own special ways. Aunt Opal’s house was always fun and laughter. She made outfits for my sister and me and my cousin Charlene. The others were younger and it was fun to visit them and play with their babies, taking them for walks, swinging them around, dancing with them. So sad, I pulled little Jo’s arm out of the socket. Except for a cousin one year older than me, I am the oldest of the cousins now, and the oldest of the girls.

Aunt Nancy and me.

Nancy's beautiful daughters, Jo and Linda, 

a couple of my younger cousins

4.  Did/does your family have reunions and can you tell us about them? They used to, but not anymore. I guess it was too much work or lack of interest. I don’t know, but it makes me sad. The cousins who live there and grew up together have enjoyed common interests, weddings, babies, etc. and of course, I didn’t get to be part of that being so far away.  

5.  If you have children, are they enjoying relationships with their cousins, aunts, uncles? My bonus kids, Sara and Jason, along with their spouses, Barrett and Amy, have many cousins and their families have big reunions. The grandkids enjoy cousin relationships even more so, for which I am happy for them. They are making great memories. 

6.  Tell us something random about your week so far.

Not too much to tell here. We are having a birthday gathering this evening (Tuesday) which I am looking forward to. Cindy wants to make her own birthday cake … hmmm. I will make blueberry sauce for the ice cream. Kate texted asking to come over, so after the men’s breakfast on Wednesday, I will go get her. As I write this, I am getting ready to attend a workshop on writing your story/testimony. I’m curious about how that will work as I share my life changing moments. Since I am not one who enjoys making any kind of presentation in front of a group, especially strangers, I’m a little apprehensive.