Posted by fallsfall on September 4, 2004, at 21:35:06
My cousin has cancer, and has 2 - 4 weeks to live. I have lots of cousins - it is hard to count them all, my father was one of seven. But this particular cousin is my favorite, the one who I feel closest to. I usually see her every 3 years, when our family had their big reunion. So it isn't like I talk to her all the time. She is a little older than I am, but she had a son who was the same age as my stepson, and they were both "difficult". There was one reunion when her son and my stepson got together - boy, was that trouble! There weren't many in my family who could understand what it was like to be raising a child like that - but we both understood. Then, when the boys were around 12, she and I both had daughters. My third child - she had her son and another son by adoption. So this daughter was her first daughter and her first pregnancy. My sister had worked for Izod, designing baby clothes during the time when my kids were born. My babies were the best dressed babies anywhere! I handed down the baby clothes to her, so that her daughter could be dressed so well, too.
I haven't been able to go to the reunions regularly in the last 10 years, due to my depression. I went 6 (?) years ago, but only for a day and a half (that was as long as I could handle staying). I was so glad to see her there.
She had surgery for her cancer 1 1/2 hours away from me 6 months ago. I wanted to go to see her in the hospital, but I couldn't drive that far. I didn't make it to the reunion this year (but she did!), so I didn't see her then either.
I haven't talked to her or sent her email in a long time (mostly because I haven't been feeling very sociable). But I want to send her an email. I'm not sure what to say. I want her to know that I love her.
Any suggestions?
poster:fallsfall
thread:386500
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/grief/20040811/msgs/386500.html