Twenty-Seven Cousins

 I attended a seminar in the morning, then left it early to drive six hours to a cousins' reunion. I had the drive timed down to the minute. But I left the seminar later than expected, hit a little bit of traffic, but still arrived at 5:40 when the reunion began at 5:00.

I pulled up to my cousin's house, stepped around to my suitcase in the back seat, hoping to brush my hair and teeth after a long drive, before greeting my cousins, some of whom I hadn't seen in years.

"Pat!" A stern voice yelled from the front door. "Hurry. We're waiting for you."

I grew up with twenty-seven cousins. Only three are younger than me, so it was like growing up with older brothers ad sisters--Twenty four! I looked up to them and loved them. One cousin used to babysit us.  Another took us on a trip to the family cabin. We played together; we celebrated together. We spent every Christmas and Fourth of July at a family party or setting off fireworks at the dock. We hiked, we swam, we traveled to our grandparents' funerals together. As a child, I went to their weddings and remembered when their children were born. I've been to their funerals and their husbands' funerals. They have always been a part of my life. Recently I traveled with my cousins back to our grandparent's homeland. I feel deeply connected and have always loved my cousins. 

I gave up brushing my hair and teeth, and ran into my cousin's house. In the middle is a big courtyard with a big fountain. Behind the fountain were all the cousins, with my mother, in the center, and they were literally waiting to take a photo. Just before a cousin's daughter was about to snap the photo, my mom thought of me. She pulled out her phone and checked, "Find my Friends." I was there. 

"Stop!" she said, "Wait for Pat." That is when a cousin rushed out and ordered me to hurry. 

Hurry I did.,, and I walked into the courtyard to see the beautiful sight of forty cousins (spouses had grown the number from twenty-seven to forty). They were all smiling at me!

So this is what it feels like to get to heaven and have everyone waiting for you. 

Where have you been? You took so long to get here. It's so good to see you. Phew that was quite the life, wasn't it?

I kneeled next to my mother's chair, thankful I'd made it just in time, thankful to be in the presence of joy--in the nick of time.