"Cousins"

This is my cousin Britt! Do we look alike? Do we look like my mom and her dad could be siblings? There were countless people in our elementary, middle and high school days that believed us! There possibly could be some out there that still believe we are cousins. We told our friends, our teachers, our boyfriends. And they believed us. Boy did we have fun with that over the years.

We lived two blocks away from each other, we rode the bus together, we worked together, we played volleyball and basketball together. We really did almost everything together. We had a notebook in middle school that we would pass back and forth to each other with notes and stories. We shared all of our secrets together.

Unfortunately, when I graduated from high school she still had one more year left. And we lost touch. Part of it was that when I left Monticello for UW-Eau Claire, I really wanted to start fresh. I left a lot of Monticello behind. But honestly for the past 14 years I have missed my "cousin".

Then late last year Britt signed a Caring Bridge site guestbook and left her e-mail address. We had a chance to reconnect again and did. Through e-mail at first and then she suggested that my family come to hers and spend some time this summer.

That is what we did last weekend. We spent a great day and evening with Britt, Adam, Brendan, and Svea. Brendan, Anna and Svea played so well together and had a great time. Anna was in heaven with all the room to run, play, bike, and ride horses! And I was in heaven just reminiscing, catching up and learning what has been going on in her life! They were so welcoming and such great hosts!

It was just really great seeing Britt again, getting to know her husband and family, watching her be a mom and a wife, and sharing some stories together. I am so looking forward to staying reconnected with her and her family!