I Love My Cousin

We have a good-sized extended family. My dad is the oldest of 5 kids, so there's always an aunt or uncle nearby. However, we were a bit isolated from our family when we were growing up (thanks to a crazy religion that kept us that way) so we didn't get to see our family as much as we would have liked to.

I remember the few times that our aunts/uncles got to come visit us. It was better than we imagined Christmas would be. We were excited for weeks. They would finally come visit for a day or so (that's about all they were allowed or could bear) and we had so much fun with them. I remember just sitting next to my aunt Jane and rubbing her sleeve because I was so happy she was near.

Then they always left. They took the sunshine with them.

As I got older (and crazy religion was a thing of the past) I really took time to make good relationships with my extended family. I spent hours at my aunt's house. I got on a plane and went to visit my only 2 cousins that are close in age to me in Milwaukee...Caroline and Peter. I had only met them once or twice up to that point so it was like meeting strangers. However, it was like the years apart had just made us stronger: we were family.

Over the years, my cousin Peter and I became good friends. I've out to visit him quite a few times and he's come out here and we always had a lot of laughs and fun. We've gone tubing and hiking up in the mountains during his visits. When we went out there, we all went to Chicago together and spent time clubbing at different Blues clubs. We have been to Wrigley Field together and spent many a fun day up at my grandma's Traverse City, MI beach house. There have been many a beer over the years...and many a laugh. For my 30th birthday, he flew out here to surprise me: I'll never forget how surprised I was when I was hanging out at the bar with Kevin and my brother and around the corner was a guy who looked an awful lot like Peter. It took my brain a few seconds to realize...it WAS Peter!! He had been planning the visit for a while and was so excited to surprise me. I'll always remember that as the best part of my 30th birthday.

I adore my cousin. Even though I don't get to see him or talk to him as much as I would like because we're both busy, I consider him one of my best friends. He is one of the most genuine and fun people you'll ever hope to meet.

I was lucky enough to have him out for a visit this past weekend. We had a great time. He brought his girlfriend Megan with him and she's wonderful. I was able to take Friday off of work and we hung out in Boulder doing Boulder-Things and we toured a brewery. We spent last night at my dad's house where the whole family was able to come...all my family who lives nearby and whom I love so much. My aunt, my younger cousins, sister, nephews, etc.

One of my favorite parts of this past weekend with Peter was when we were driving home from Boulder. We had Maelin in the car with us and she was a bit cranky because I refused to put on "Mama Mia" for her (yes, my daughter is a bit demanding). Megan and Peter were in the backseat with her and I turned up the 80's music hoping she would forget that it wasn't "mia". Peter and Megan spent the entire ride home from Boulder (about 45 minutes) dancing with Maelin, clapping, singing, kicking and laughing. Maelin had a blast. We have pictures of her just grinning. At one point I looked back and caught a glimpse (yes, I was keeping my eyes on the road as best I could with the dance party in the backseat) of Peter just smiling and laughing as he looked at my daughter and Maelin laughing back at him.

I had a glimpse of the future: Maelin has a built-in friend now too. Although Peter lives far away, he will always be there for us. Maelin will now be the one who looks forward to his visits and when he finally gets here (or I take her out there to run him crazy), she'll be the one who just sits and pats his sleeve. Family is a precious thing and I am so lucky that mine is so wonderful.

Maelin is a lucky girl to be a part of it.

Here are a few pictures from our visit this weekend...


4 Generations of Kimlings: My grandma, my dad, Maelin and I


Cousin Pete, my brother Jeff and I after many, many, MANY hours of beers. This was at about 2am


Our extended family. My aunt and her daughters, some other friends, my sister and nephews, etc.


My grandma and her grandkids...all the Kimling Cousins


Cousin Peter, my sister Heather, Jeff, Mary, Emmie and I.


Peter, Jeff, Megan and I at the best brewery tour I've been to in a long time. Dale's Pale Ale folks! Gotta try it...


At Boulder Falls...so pretty and relaxing