Feeling Like You Have Come Home

Deborah, Susan, Michelle, Connie and Barbara

A few weekends ago my sister and I went to Vegas to meet our cousins for one of their daughters 21st birthday celebrations. The last time we were all all toghter was under very sad circumstances, the death of our beloved Grandfather John Viacara in 1996.  This time was so different.  We were together to celebrate our baby cousin Susie's daughter Brittany's 21st birthday. They live in Oregon and have all Brittany's life. Also in Oregon is our Baby Baby cousin Christene...she was born when we were teenagers. Also along was our eldest cousin Michelle. I say oldest as she is older...only 6 months and 2 days older then my twin and I but she is still older. Her eldest daughter Stefanie and her boy friend were in town as well for a birthday party The one missing player is our cousin Connie, Susie's older sister, who lives in New York. Funny thing is she had lived in Las Vegas for many years and just recently moved.

So we find ourselves in our cool hotel suite at the The Platinum Hotel. Thanks Barbara for finding us an awesome place to rest our heads. It was perfect.  Full kitchen, giant bathroom and room for 6 to sleep.  We were blessed for the set up we had.

Barbra and I arrived not 10 minutes after Susan, Christene and Brittany.  The timing was perfect. We all arrive around 2:00pm on Friday. We await the arrival Michelle, who finally arrives around 7:00pm



Me, Susie, Brittany, Christene, Barbara

Well I don't want this to be a run down of what we did.. I want it to be me sharing the love that I felt over this 3 day period. I have not felt as much love in a long time.  I have been living away from my cousins/family for so many years that I forgot how much I miss them. I did not forget, I just had to learn how to block it out.  Being a mom and wife with a "new" family made the the initial adjustment OK.  My sister and I have lived away from our maternal family since 1988. We were not the ones to relocate. Amazingly our grandparent, parents, aunt and her children and uncle and aunt all moved away...at least 280 miles away.  Circumstances what they were, my mothers family was what we grew up with and we were close.

Cousins: your first best friends.  Cousins: your best secret keepers.  Cousins: the ones who know just how awesome it is to be a part of YOUR family.  Shared Christmas's, summer vacations, Easters. The ones you fight with one hour and make up with the next. Haunted houses, long games of Monopoly, using the Jouyi Board. 5 girls all within 3 1/2 years. Boy did our parents had their hands full.

My point being is that these girls are are close to me as my sister. Our weekend in Vegas was filled with such love and fun and caring and silliness and sharing and crying and every emotion you could have and end up feeling refreshed.  I know I had a moment that I was being a little sad with my Michelle but she understands.  I love her and I will always be there for her. I look at her hands and see my moms hands.  She is the oldest, the wisest and I love her with all my heart.  And Susie... our little mommy, she is strong and determined and never lets anything get her down. Connie...was not there be she was in my thoughts...my tough, bratty, and sweet funny girl. I can hear her funny little laugh...she laughs at everything.  

I have only written about the original  5 and that was on purpose. They are a part of my heart and soul, who I am and for that I am forever grateful for being born into this family, the Viacara Family, OUR FAMILY. I love you girls more then you could imagine and know I can not wait another 15 years to spend quality time together. LOVE YA MUAH!!!!!!!