Distant Relations
Each year my dad’s cousin celebrates family with her Cousins Party. She invites everyone even distantly related to us. Individuals come whom I can remember seeing there every single year, and I know they’re related to me somehow, but I still haven’t the foggiest idea how. The date of the party changes every year, and isn’t even always in the same season. Last Christmas, Barbara had the largest crowd I’ve ever seen and the sink broke halfway through the party. It was a disaster and dishes were piled in mountains. Then the guys stepped in. It was hilarious to see my Dad’s cousin Ronnie, uncle Eddie and my cousin Patrick all standing around the sink with flashlights and plungers, arguing over exactly what needed to be done, as Barbara kept tugging at her hair and pacing in and out of the scene.
Barbara is incredibly generous with her time, money and energy. She cooks all of the food for what is usually a crowd of fifty, plus purchases enough alcohol for an army (and when the family is 3/4 Irish, that’s useful!). On top of that, she buys a gift for each and every guest. Sometimes the gifts are each completely unique and different. Other times there’s a theme. This year’s party, which we just attended, was a themed year. Barbara’s best friend bought a company that sells hats online. Barbara bought each and every one of us a different chapeau. Her husband Bill, her personal hero, got an Indiana Jones fedora hat. Her son, who owns a landscaping business, got one of those Tilley hats. Both are gorgeous and perfect for the giftee. Mine, on the other hand, was one of these. Alas. I loathe pink and am anything but a country girl.
My lack of enthusiasm and gratitude left me feeling rather shamefaced. By the time the party was over, I found I’d volunteered to help complete an online family tree. Well, at least now I’ll finally figure out how I’m related to all of those people at the party. I’ve started some of the research, and am surprised at how much fun it is. There’s something very satisfying in digging up historical details about one’s ancestors that everyone living has forgotten. By the next Cousins Party, I hope to have found something really interesting in our past to astonish everyone!