How do you write the final page of a chapter; especially when you were not ready for that chapter to come to an end?
Yesterday was her 44th birthday. I am the oldest of the cousins. She was a little over 3 years younger than me. It was not uncommon for us to find our way into trouble. At some point we began to feel proud of being the black sheep of the family; even if it was only a label we gave to ourselves. One of the most vivid memories I have of us is from our childhood. I was sitting on my canopy bed listening to Carmen or DcTalk (totally dating myself). Her family had come to visit. I can remember her entering the room, sitting on the bed across from me and beginning to try to clap to the beat of the music. Neither of us have an ounce of rhythm, so I am not completely sure why that memory, of all memories, comes to mind when I think of us as kids. I often wonder if it is meant to remind me of how much she looked up to me or wanted to just belong. As it happens, time and distance set the stage for us to grow apart. Ove...
