Some people are lucky enough to win prizes in raffles.

Some people are lucky enough to go to a job they love every day. Some people are lucky enough to fall in love. And some people are lucky enough to get dealt a good hand in a poker game.

But for me, I am lucky enough to have a cousin who doubles as my best friend.

I don't remember much about my first year of life but I'm sure it was boring as you weren't around yet. I am not sure how I got through the family parties, the holiday parties and the birthday parties without you, but I seemed to have survived it.

When your cousin doubles as your best friend nothing is too embarrassing to tell or show each other.

Every baby picture, home video, and memory. You have access to it all and can use it as black mail but probably won't because chances are, you were apart of it too. Remember the time we thought we could act and made a series of horror movies and TV commercials? Yeah, those are for our eyes only.

When your cousin doubles as your best friend long road trips don't seem that bad.

Which ever car we rode in, whether it be mine or yours, the rest of the family was in for a long few hours. We would laugh non-stop, talk in funny accents, whisper our secrets and take endless selfies. What better way to pass the time than to whip out photo booth and take 100 pictures of yourselves!?

When your cousin doubles as your best friend you always have a concert buddy.

From the Jonas Brothers and Demi Lovato to Justin Bieber, One Direction and Maroon 5 you were always by my side. I have to give you props for sitting through hours of concerts listening to my bad singing and screaming. Sorry, hope you love me anyways!

When your cousin doubles as your best friend there is never a dull family event, ever.

No matter how old we get we act as if we are five. Hiding upstairs so we don't get stuck doing the dinner dishes or secretly pouring ourselves glasses of wine. We watch our mother's act the same way and see ourselves in them. We are attached at the hip and everyone there knows it.

When your cousin doubles as your best friend no amount of distance will ever be a problem.

You don't live down the street or in the next town over. You live 2 bridges away and sometimes that really sucks. The distance between us just makes for a better excuse to have a sleepover for a night or two... or three.

Now were are both venturing off to college.

The 51 miles separating us has grown to 224 miles, however the distance was never a problem for us. I am excited for our futures and eager to see what we both accomplish in our lives. I can say I was there from the beginning with you and obviously have the embarrassing pictures to prove it.

This is what it's like to have your cousin double as your best friend.