Cousins

When I was little we vacationed a lot in Kentucky.  My aunt, uncle, and two cousins, Christopher and Matthew, lived there.  Each year my parents would load up the station wagon, the 5 kids, all the luggage we required, and make the 13-hour drive.

 I can't even imagine what that car had to look like. Seriously - 7 people with our needs for a week or so?  And if you hear one youngster saying "How much longer?" - can you imagine what MY parents heard?   It makes me appreciate my parents even more just imagining that! 

We would spend a week or two there visiting.  The adults would catch up on things and us kids got a chance to play together and do typical cousin stuff.

As the years passed and my siblings got older, at times it was just my parents and I who went to visit.  Both Matthew and Christopher were younger than me.  They lived on a cul-de-sac and we had a blast running from home to home, getting all the kids together and playing.  Even though we just visited once a year,  those neighborhood kids always made me feel like a part of their group.  As we got older we did different things, including bowling, going out for pizza, etc. 

Christopher and Matthew were a hoot to say the least. I always got a kick out of hearing them talk.  Instead of "Louieville" (my pronunciation) it was "Lowville."  And instead of "you all" it was "y'all."  Everyone there drinks "Coke" not "pop."  And the list goes on and on and on.    Matthew still laughs at the word "davenport!"

 Christopher was always very confident, self assured, and could turn on the charm in a heartbeat.  He had an amazing smile and was the more serious of the two boys.  He looked so much like his mother.  Matthew was the comedian of the two, a bit shy, and wore his heart on his sleeve.  He was the spitting image of his dad.

My aunt passed away in a car accident in the 1970s.  My uncle passed away in the late 1980s, so my cousins were without their parents when they were just young men - something I can't even begin to imagine.  Although we haven't seen each other for quite a while, you never forget your cousins - especially when you only have 4 cousins total.  

They got busy with their lives and families and we did the same.  And the distance between us didn't make getting together as easy as we would have liked.  My parents would pass along information about "the boys" to us, and I am sure they passed along information about us to them.  It's funny looking back how much my parents were information relayers in a lot of ways - something I took for granted. 

I was able to connect with Matthew and Christopher through email and eventually Facebook, so was able to catch up a bit.  I heard from Christopher once in a great while, but it was Matthew who would show up more often with an email or post on Facebook.

So it was hard last week to find out that Christopher had passed away on Easter Sunday.   He was 45 years old.  Christopher was very blessed in that he had two sons, many people who loved and admired him,  and a job he loved and was wonderful at. 

As the years pass and our families change and grow, I realize even more how precious family is. 

No matter how many years have passed since those vacations to Kentucky, I'll always remember  playing with the kids on the court and the good times I had with Matthew and Christopher.  

While Christopher only had 45 years, he made them a truly remarkable 45 years.  I hope I can leave a lasting impression like Chris has. 

We miss you Chris. 


The only thing that makes your absence a little less painful is knowing you are in wonderful company. 

Hugs, Matthew.