Karen, David, Kathy, Eileen, Lorna, Ron

My maternal cousins and I grew up together. We all livedfairly close, so we saw a lot of each other. Aunt Muriel and Uncle Gordon(David and Eileen’s parents) lived in El Sereno. Aunt Evie and Uncle Frank (Karenand Kathy’s folks) lived in Monterey Park. We lived in Alhambra. We were withinfive miles of each other.

We spent all of the major holidays together. Mom hostedEaster, Aunt Muriel had Thanksgiving, Grandma had Christmas, and Aunt Evie andUncle Frank had New Year’s Eve. Known as “Hogmanay” in Scotland, New Year’s Evewas a very big celebration. (My grandparents were both born and raised in thatcountry.)

David was the oldest. I was next and fourteen monthsyounger. Three years later, all the “littles” were born. My brother, Ron camealong in May, Eileen arrived in August, and the twins were born in December.

Aunt Evie and Uncle Frank put in a swimming pool, and wespent a great deal of time during the summer at their house. Lots of happy memorieswere made there!

We all knew each other’s neighbors because we played withthem. Many years later, a couple came to our church. I recognized her as thelittle girl who had lived across the street from my cousins, Eileen and David. Theyhad a large family, and we had played at their house often.

I babysat for my aunt’s neighbors and knew them and theirkids very well. When I was in my twenties, I went to work for an income taxpreparer. I ended up working for my aunt Evie’s best friend. I had taken careof her kids. She and I also became good friends over the next few years.

When I was in my early teens, Aunt Evie and Uncle Frankmoved north to San Mateo in the Bay Area for work. The first Thanksgivingholiday after they moved, Eileen and I took the train to visit them. Sheenjoyed playing with the twins, and I got to spend time with Aunt Evie.

We still got together fairly often. In high school, I dated oneof David’s friends, and he dated some of mine. We practiced dancing together toall the latest music. He embarrassed me by screening my boyfriends!

After Aunt Evie and Uncle Frank moved away, Aunt Muriel andUncle Gordon hosted the Hogmanay party as well as Thanksgiving. Aunt Evie andUncle Frank sometimes came down for the holidays.

Eventually, I married, and David went into the Air Force.Then he moved back to the East Coast where he married. We all loved his wife.They later moved back to California where we got together with them once in awhile.

Life moved on, and we all became busy with our own families.Larry and I visited Aunt Evie and Uncle Frank a couple of times a year. We sawKaren and Kathy while we were there.

The last time we were all together was at our 50thwedding anniversary party in 2015.

Karen, Kathy, Lorna, Ron, Eileen, David

Ron passed away five years later.

This past weekend we celebrated the life of Aunt Evie, whodied at 101 years old. She’d had a long and happy life, so we all wanted to bethere to celebrate her. The remaining cousins all came.

I still love my cousins and am grateful for all thewonderful memories we share.