Can you guess who it is? Well, it’s all of you. You are all my favorite. I don’t truly believe there are any actual words to narrate how thankful I am for each and every one of you. But this will be my attempt to do so. All nine of us are beyond fortunate to have one another. We can thank Granny and Gramps for that. I only know few people who have cousins who are as immensely close as we are. All growing up in the same small town. Living down the streets from one another. Mostly attending all the same schools. “Running away from home” to each other’s houses when we were mad at our parents. And most importantly, our ritual of Sunday dinners at Granny and Gramps.
Z, you're the oldest, and let’s be honest — you have one of the biggest roles being the first-born grandchild. We all look up to you. In a way, you were like the trial and error. But let’s be frank here, you have been successful at so many things. If you had not done the foreign exchange program back when you did, who knows if the rest of us would have too? Thank you for leaving behind legendary stories. Like how you thought an Uber had picked you up on your last birthday. And you quoted to the driver on how she is “kind of cute”, to only realize seconds after this statement that it was not an uber driver. But that it was your mom who was beside you. But really thank you for everything you do.
T, you’re not my cousin. But you’re my older brother. You make our family complete. I’d really be lost without you. If Mom and Dad did not make you, I’d tell them to go back in time and redo things. You and I were meant to be siblings. We're so different but so much the same. We both have this unique taste for adventure, travel, culture, and music (every time I hear a deadmou5 song off of the “album title goes here” album it makes me think of you). Luckily you’re a big boy and have achieved your dream job, and have found your dream girl. So you do much more travel and adventure than I do. But I’m so happy for you, seeing you achieve all the things you adore. And hopefully one day we can travel together. I love you more than burnt bacon and the north woods.
N, where do I even start with you. You’re more protective of me than my own brother. I haven’t decided if I really like this or not. But thank you for being my own personal guard dog. You and I have so many memories and secrets together. Thank you for always going shopping with me, and holding my bags (okay I don’t think you’ve ever held my bags, but it sounded good). That time we got into a fight in the movie store and knocked all the movies off the wall, it was your fault. Thought you made a complete mess and embarrassed me, I forgive you. But N, I really love you and I wouldn’t want anyone else to be the N of the family.
B, finally the first granddaughter of the bunch. B, you’re one of my best friends and I consider you more of a sister than a cousin. I’ve literally followed your footsteps mostly through life, but in a way you have simultaneously taught me to follow my own footsteps. I’m forever thankful for that. You’re one of the most creative people I know, and I hope one day I can obtain skills like yours to sew and quilt. You and N play such a big role in my childhood. Thought you guys weren’t always the nicest to me. Let’s never forget our obsessive infatuation with the “3 Ninjas”. But we have some of the best stories to pass on to our future children, and I wouldn’t want to have these stories with anyone else.
C this is where things get a little different. You are the oldest of the younger half of the cousins. C you remind me a lot of my teenage self. But you are also very different and unique in your own ways. I still remember the day you were born, and I would always imagine how you’d look as you got older. And now you are this beautiful young lady with a free-spirited heart. You’re stunning actually. Always remember to follow your dreams, and don’t let anyone get in your way.
H my little H. You’re the cutest button I know. In the back of my mind you will always be the toddler running around yelling “I’m fast”. And now you’re in drivers ed! You will NOT be going fast in the Subi, what did you name it? Bruce? Bruce will drive slow and safe. Thank you for being so talented and giving me a musical to attended to every year. I’m beyond excited to see what the future has in store for you. Thank you for being a Disney freak like me.
BL I remember the day you were born as well. And now you are a freshman in high school. You were the youngest grandchild for the longest time and you were also the quietest. But you are no longer the baby, nor are you quite. I don’t know what happened, but I’m glad it did. You make holidays and family parties much more interesting. Especially last Christmas when you wouldn’t stop dancing, BL continue to dance like no one is watching.
M last but not least. You’re not my cousin either, but you are my little sister. I feel bad because you’re such an outcast compared to us and won’t get the experience the rest of us had all being close in age. But I wouldn’t want to have it any other way. You’re the truest definition of a pain, but I love you so much. I love you unconditionally. I rarely get to see you, and it shatters my heart. I feel like I’m missing out on a big part of you growing up. But I’m still lucky to call you my little sister, though you scare me sometimes you’re also utterly hilarious. M always know that I love you. That we all love you.
Also, I’m thankful for all the significant others that have joined our family. We wouldn’t be complete without you either. Thank you for accepting or at least pretending to accept our craziness.
Some of us are now married, moved away, or still finding ourselves. This is life and this is growing up. I think we all understand. Though we don’t do Sunday dinners anymore, and we won’t all be together this Thanksgiving, I’m thinking of all of you. I’m actually always thinking of all of you. I love you all.
If this didn’t portray to you, thank you for reading it still. I’m more than blessed for that. What are you thankful for?
