Blog 3414 – 03.09.2025

“Are My Sisters Who Are My Cousins Coming?

In a few weeks on April 3rd my son Jay will turn thirty-five. On Jay’s thirtieth birthday another special child was born, Miss Amelia Curtis, the first grandchild of one of my dearest friends. Amelia lives in Appleton, Wisconsin and her grandmother Deb lives in Mineral Point, Wisconsin and both would say that is too far apart. But that makes them both relish the times they do get to be together.

Deb tried her best to warn me about how being a grandparent can change one’s whole perspective on life. I loved my daughter Emily dearly, she died almost thirteen years ago and one never “gets over” the loss of a child. I also love my son Jay very, very much. But even those great loves and the love I had for my parents now deceased and the love I have for my brother, and the intimate and tender love I have for my wife do not prepare one for the swelling of the heart that occurs to make room for a grandchild. It is an old joke, but it still makes me smile, “The beaming grandmother said, ‘If I had only known how wonderful grandchildren are, I would have had them first’”.

Deb shared with me yesterday an Amelia quote from two years ago when she was but three. Upon visiting her great aunt Kristi, Deb’s sister, and having played with her girl cousins there a couple of times, when Amelia found out that she was going to Kristi’s house again she asked, “Are my sisters who are cousins coming?” Amelia is an only child, yet even at the young age of three she was aware that these precious playmates were first and foremost her sisters even though they were also her cousins.

I remarked back to my friend Deb that Amelia must be an old soul to be so wise. I am thinking of quote, “And a little child shall lead them.” Would we were all wise enough to see that everyone we meet is a brother or a sister first however else we may be related to them.

Your friend, fellow traveler, and brother,

David James White