Connections revisited

Mr. C has a lot of cousins and all but one are girls. Somehow, the one boy just happens to be almost the same age as he is. This sounds perfect, right? Well, it would be except that Mr. C never gets to see these cousins. His dad travels a lot for work, so whenever they are together there isn’t time for them to meet up with that side of the family. The last time they were all together was eleven years ago. Mr. C is twelve. You do the math. These kids have changed a bit since then. Which is where I come in.

I won the cousin lottery. While we have never lived near one another, we saw each other a few times a year growing up and still help each other out when life gets wonky. So, not only do I think it’s important for my son to spend some time with them for bonding purposes, but they also happen to live on the exact route we’re taking. It’s a meant-to-be type of coincidence. What else can I do but contact my former sister-in-law and ask if we can come stay for a couple of nights?

We’re an hour away from their house when Mr. C starts getting nervous and asking rapid-fire questions like he’s a contestant on a game show. What are they like? What are we going to do while we’re there? Do they know who I am? What if we don’t like each other? And, if I’m completely honest, it’s been a really long time since I’ve seen Ex Number One’s brother and family, I’m getting a tad bit nervous myself. What if we no longer have anything in common?

Worry, schmurry! What a waste of time.

Mr. C and his cousins become fast friends. They swim, they run, they explore, they play video games. Non-stop for two days! No car, no road food, no hotels. No problems.

For me it’s an opportunity to reconnect with a brother and sister I’ve known since, well, forever. We were practically babies when we first met. Now some of our babies are taller than we are. It’s amazing. I was married to Mr. C’s dad for eleven years. We divorced ten years ago. Now I realize that, no matter how many years go by, we can simply pick up right where we left off. My only regret is that it took me so long to make this happen.

You might be asking, what about the pets? Well, let me tell you, they love this place! The cousins adore them and shower them with attention and treats. The dogs run around without leashes for the first time in weeks. Every time I look at them they have happy little smiles on their furry faces. And, Jasper doesn’t have to go into his backpack once while we’re there. We all have fun. And, a bit of relaxation. And, delicious home cooking! Yay! Yay! Yum!

So, my words of wisdom: if you are driving across the U.S., make sure you take the time to stop and reconnect with folks you know along the way. It doesn’t matter how long it’s been. I promise. It’ll be a welcome break from the car routine and the perfect time to craft some new memories with long lost friends and family.