Cousins

During the past month I have lost two cousins.  On the same day we were burying one, the second one died.  It caused me to look for my favorite quotes on cousins, some of which I would like to share:

• “Cousins are childhood playmates who grow up to be forever friends.” – Unknown
• “Cousin to cousin we’ll always be, special friends from the same family tree.” – Anonymous author but given to me on a chair pillow by my late cousin, Dr. Vicki Gilliam.
• From my late cousin, Dr. Larry Gilliam to his future wife as he worked in his father’s grocery store, and she asked if he was going to check her out (meaning at the check-out counter). “I’ve been checking you out for the last thirty minutes.”
• “Cousins are those rare people who ask how we are and then wait to hear the answer.” – Ed Cunningham, American Sports Announcer
• “A real cousin walks in when the rest of the world walks out.” – Proverb
• “A cousin is someone whose smile helps when the roads are rough and long.” –  Unknown
• “A cousin is a little bit of childhood that can never be lost.” – Marion C. Garretty, American Poet
• “Cousins are like celebrities for little kids. If little kids had a People magazine, cousins would be on the cover. Cousins are the barometers of how fun a family get-together will be.”- Jim Gaffigan, American Comedian

• “At Christmas, cousins are the presents under the tree.” – Karen Decourcey

• ”Mark, the cousinof Barnabas (about whom you received instructions: if he comes to you, welcome him)” – Colossians 4:10