I’m an only child. The subject for week #51 is Cousins. I spent so much time with my maternal cousins that I don’t often truly feel like an only.

I have seven cousins on each side. Most of us are grouped within a few years of each other. Each side has what I call the “outliers”, meaning they are ten or more years younger than myself. My maternal cousins and I all lived in the same town. We spent quite a bit of time together. One uncle bought a house with a pool and a basement my aunt converted into a ceramic studio. I spent a lot of time there as a teenager. My other uncle had a great home (with a fully stocked bar). His son is fourteen years younger than me. I would babysit him (and test out the bar). I was fortunate to be able to spend so much time with him as a child. I can remember the fun he and I would have, especially around the age of three and four.

There is a saying, “In each generation, a genealogist is born…” – well maybe it’s my saying!  Both parents have a cousin who is interested in genealogy. My dad’s cousin has chronicled our Polish family roots and documented them. He has a growing number of pictures added to our family site in MyHeritage. He still lives on one of the homesteads in Alberta.

What memories do you have with your cousins? I leave you with that thought as we wrap up 2023.