Dear Lauren, Sydney, Matt, and Dori,

Even though we grew up and live in different houses (but in the same town) you guys are more like siblings than cousins to me. Spending every waking moment together when we were young, to being called a cult in both camp and school, we were always grouped together.

You guys are the best friends I could have ever asked for and I know that we will forever have each other and be infinitely intertwined in each other’s lives. We literally grew up in Grandma’s basement, with Bubbe, Flo, Lucy and Veda, running around, taking trips to the beach, packing up the carriages and playing at the park, having birthday celebrations, skittles and starburst Fridays and spent our vacations navigating the rapids and riding down all of the slides at the Atlantis, with a new cousin partner each time.

Our holiday dinners are definitely exciting, because 15 of us at the same table - 8 of us kids, is never safe.

Whether we are hiding each other’s phones from one another, or playing along with Grandma’s silly games, we always have a lot of laughs. I have to thank our parents and Grandma and Grandpa for this relationship because they have always ensured that our bonds are the strongest ever and nothing should ever come between us. Granted, taking an eight-cousin picture has become a little more challenging than it was when we were little, but it’s what makes us “us.”

We all went to the same schools, had many of the same teachers, and continue to be referred to as the Feldman/Cohn/Weiss family. I remember always walking into a new class asking the teacher if they knew Lauren, and I know you all have subsequently done the same.

This definitely helped us when we had saved tests and quizzes that we were able to pass down, but didn’t help when we wanted to recycle a project, and the teacher knew exactly what each sibling and cousin had done in the past … then we were on our own.

We all participated in the same sports, and the same after-school activities, so again, our lives intertwined. We supported each other from the sidelines at various games and competitions, but nothing was better than four of us cheerleaders being able to cheer on Ethan and Matt on the football field and basketball court.

Not many people can say they have had these opportunities to spend so much time with their cousins, and while we may have taken it for granted in the past, as I get older, I really cherish those times and our relationships.

As if we didn’t see each other enough during the school year, Raquette Lake had become our summer home – again all together. We shared camp friends and memories that we came home to collectively reminisce about.

Lauren, my toe story will never get old and I am so happy you were able to experience it; Sydney getting hit with a boat on the dock, Emmie the hot chocolate incident – enough said, and Dori and her leggings. Our brother sister lunch table was the largest at camp - there wasn’t even room for a counselor to sit.

The best part of having you guys like siblings is that I get to share in every aspect of your lives like I do with my own siblings.

Instead of three, I get seven! In our blood is thicker than water world, we all hate the same people and have the same vendettas against those who have hurt any one of us. I know you guys will forever be there for me in any situation, and I will always be there for you guys.

I can’t wait to see us where our lives will take us when we’re older, but I hope that it’s just as close and together as it is now.

I love you guys forever and know that I am eternally grateful for each and every one of you and I will forever cherish what we have!