July 2000

Reconnecting with the relatives…the Wyoming Folk come to visit

My mother told me that my cousin D, her husband G and their 13-year-old daughter K were coming to visit.

“Oh, and by the way, they’re staying with us” she added.

D is my oldest female cousin.  She was the first granddaughter born into our family of 24 first cousins.  When I was little, she babysat my siblings and I.  When I was 8 she got married and moved to Wyoming.  When I was 10 we took our first cross-country family vacation (itself an essay in the making) to visit her.  When I was 15, she visited briefly with her husband. That was the last time I had seen her.

I was excited about their visit, but nervous.  I had never known her as an adult.  All I had were childhood memories of her.  My mother visits her often and is quite close to her, as well as her two sisters in Texas.  She’s always telling me how fun they are, what wonderful times they all share.

As the time for their visit came closer, I found myself getting more nervous.  What if she’s boring? What if her husband hates the city and the plans I’d made?

As their Caddy pulled into our street I nervously looked around & gulped a bit.  When she got out of the car and screamed “Hello”, I figured we’d be ok.  Her husband was funny, commenting right away on the city and how crowded it was! K was so sweet, running up and hugging me as if she had known me her whole life, instead of just meeting me that moment.   Traveling with them was D’s brother’s son, my 2^nd cousin L.  He was just as sweet as Kelly, only in boy form.  As we went into the house, we sat around the dining room table, eating a quick dinner.  Everyone talked at once, telling stories of our childhood, talking about what the 4 of them wanted to see in Chicago and laughing at just about everything.  Within about 2 hours I knew everything I needed to know about K’s life and was completely smitten by her!! She was to be my new ‘favorite family member’.  I was reminded again by how much I loved D.  Her easy-going and down to earth matter hadn’t changed at all since I was a child.  G was a gruff sweetheart that I immediately felt comfortable with and quickly grew to adore and love. 

The next day was 4^th of July and I had planned a party to welcome them.  All my immediate family was coming as well as my favorite Aunt & Uncle and cousins.   Several of my friends planned on stopping by and it was fast turning into a big event.  I got Rib-Eye’s from Paulina Meat Market and started cooking a feast 1^st thing in the morning. 

The day was better than anything and it was a day that I will remember forever.  I can’t remember the last time I had so much fun with my family.   We laughed and the stories never stopped.  My brother D did his usual bang up job of being grill master (his inherited gift from our father) and food and drink was consumed with gusto.  I was proud to introduce the Wyoming adults into the wonderful world of Cosmo’s!! Some of us will never be the same after the gallons we knocked back!!  My friends loved my visiting family and my family was equally pleased with my friends. 

The next morning I had planned an outing at Wrigley Field.  It was to be K’s 1^st time in a major league ballpark.  G thought that it was the coolest thing in the world to WALK to a game from our house!! Once inside, we ate Chicago Hot Dogs, cheered for the Cub’s and watched them win (thank God!).  Afterwards, we decided to take G, K & L on their 1^st ‘L’ ride.  We boarded the train at Addison, changed at Belmont and rode downtown.  On the train ride, a fellow passenger overheard us talking and told us he was a former Chicago tour guide.  He gave G & K the lowdown on the city, while I pointed out the differences to D.  So much had changed since she had been here last, but she also remembered a lot.   Afterwards we talked about how cool Chicago people are. Here was a stranger, riding home from work after a long day, chatting about the city he loved to some tourists. 

The next day we continued the tourist trip and went to the Field Museum and Navy Pier.  After eating at the pier we drove further downtown and watched the sun set from the top of the Sears Tower.  Then we drove down Michigan Avenue and looked at all the twinkling lights.

The next day they packed to leave.  As I watched them load the car, I was filled with dread.  I thought that the trip was too short.  I wanted them to stay longer and see more.   I simply wanted to spend more time with them.

As we all hugged and kissed goodbye, promising to write more, phone more and visit more, the lump that had been in my throat started to dissolve.  What we had was perfect.  Our visit was just as it should have been - not too long and not too short.

What struck me about this trip was how I was able to reconnect with someone I had known in childhood and begin two new relationships with the most important people in her life.   Now I talk to my little K at least once a week via e-mail.  I keep up with D via e-mail as well, along with the occasional hour plus telephone call chatting about life. 

It was great to find each other again…Next stop...Wyoming and connecting on the prairie!