My father had four siblings and each one had at least two children, so needless to say, we had a few cousins when I was growing up. Our family had a lot of gatherings so not only were they relatives, my cousins were also playmates. I thought my cousin Teddy (standing in the back) was so cool. He had a MG Spitfire (I think that was the name of his sports car) and went to college. My cousin B.J. (holding my cousin Kenny) was beautiful and smart and a cheer leader- very popular! She went on to be a nurse and later on ran a florist shop with a friend. My cousin Kenny died at the age of 6 when his lungs began filling up with fluids faster than the doctors could pump it out. I was often the one to play with him and the other "little ones" because the cousins I was closest to in age loved horses and I was petrified of them! Looking back it amazes me how well we all got along (and still do!) in spite of our diversified interests and personalities. My sister Diana (in the white headband next to Teddy) and I still laugh about how we determined we always wanted to be Hamiltons so we would have to marry our cousin Johnny (with the red tie) so we wouldn't lose our maiden name! We look so well behaved in this picture, but I'm sure it was bedlam just before the photographer took it. 15 children never sit still at the same time! And since it appears this was taken around Christmas I'm sure we were bribed to stay still until Mr. Collard (one of the town's two professional photographers) was finished. Our cousin Christmas parties involved lots of good food (particularly cookies) and presents which I'm sure we were impatiently waiting to open! As the years went by we "acquired" two more cousins when my widowed Aunt Bet remarried. They fit right in with our crazy bunch and we felt like they'd been a part of our family all along. We're not scattered too far apart these days although the cousin parties are a thing of the past. And now our children are having children! When my father passed away, some of them demonstrated what families are really all about, traveling up to Vermont to attend the funeral and then basically turning right around and heading home to deliver kids to college or start work the next day. Did I tell you that my Hamilton cousins are awesome?
So, can you tell which one is me? You probably can. I haven't changed much!
@kerristephens Thank you Kerri! @yaorenliu Thank you Yao- and yes, you are right! My youngest sister is the curly top in front of the sister with the headband. I am the oldest- but we'll save that memory and story for another essay in this self-story challenge. @maggiemae Thank you Maggie! Yes, if you ever make it to the Poconos, we will have a big family party so you can meet them in person! @digitalrn Thank you Rick! @nicolecampbell Thank you Nicole! Yes, it does appear that way, doesn't it?!
This is wonderful pic, I love how they used to take these huge family pics. Such memories and it´s a wonderful shot to remember them by. It´s a lovely story, you sounded like having such awesome childhood.
Thank you Bev and Suse! I am very grateful that in spite of some or our sorrows and sadness as a family we also had so many good memories. I do count them as a blessing from God.
So many children in one place means a lot of games but also a lot of work for adults. You have a nice but seriously face because you are the oldest of sisters. Oldest children are usually kept the younger children.
I love your family picture. I had more cousins and never ever met all of them but the ones who lived close were more like this, almost siblings more than friends. Moms family lived close, she was an only child but her moms sister, married her dads brother so they had 4 boys who had all the same relatives as my mom. Those boys lived in one house and mom in another in the same ranch and their children were my nine close cousins. Dad was one of 12 kids and several had large families 2,000 miles from where I grew up.
September 14th, 2014
Leave a Comment
Sign up for a free account or Sign in to post a comment.
@yaorenliu Thank you Yao- and yes, you are right! My youngest sister is the curly top in front of the sister with the headband. I am the oldest- but we'll save that memory and story for another essay in this self-story challenge.
@maggiemae Thank you Maggie! Yes, if you ever make it to the Poconos, we will have a big family party so you can meet them in person!
@digitalrn Thank you Rick!
@nicolecampbell Thank you Nicole! Yes, it does appear that way, doesn't it?!
Thank you Bev and Suse! I am very grateful that in spite of some or our sorrows and sadness as a family we also had so many good memories. I do count them as a blessing from God.