So Susan, What is your relationship like with various members of your family?

[susandennis]

My family was never huge and is dying out so at least this will be quick. I have a brother and a sister and a cousin.

My Mom had only one brother who was killed in World War II before he fathered any children. Dad had one sister who who had a son. My Aunt and her husband are long gone but her son is still alive.

My cousin is now 74 and lives in the house his dad built when he was 7 not that far from downtown Oklahoma City. He was (is?) a journeyman electrician who never married. My Dad made kind of an effort to include him but never approved of his life decisions so wasn't all that successful. I'm the only one in our family he's even moderately attached to. He's not big on communication. No acrimony at all. Probably indifference more than anything. I used to call him every four or five years just to check in. It didn't seem as if he minded the calls, more like he just didn't see the point.

About 7 or 8 years ago, I got a post card from him asking for my email address for his attorney who was setting up a trust with me as a trustee. Then a couple of years after that, I got an official letter from the attorney saying he was no longer involved with any trusts because he was now a judge. Really odd the whole thing, but that's my cousin.

My sister is 18 months younger than I am and lives on Lopez Island which happens to be about 2.5 hours north of here. We have not spoken since shortly after my Mom died in 2005. My sister has always been high maintenance. When my parents were alive, I tried to keep a relationship with her because it meant a lot to them. But it was a bloody struggle and when they died, I quit. My life is substantially better, calmer, nicer without her in it.

My brother is 4 years younger than I am. He's my friend and my support and my connection. We went years without much contact. We were busy. But a couple of decades ago we kind of drifted back together and it's been so wonderful for me. He lets me share his life and his chickens 24/7 via webcams. He never runs out of patience at my very frequent pestering of him about this and that and nothing important. My life would not be nearly as rich or as nice without him.

Comments

[underwear-slave.livejournal.com]

Sisters are more trouble than hey worth sometimes I think. I haven't talked to my sister in years. That's her choice but I'm fine with it. She blames me for all the problems in her life, always plays the victim, and takes responsibility for nothing.

[susandennis]

One time - years ago - before she had even met her husband - in a screaming episode she accused me of being perfect and having everything. You have the perfect house, you had the perfect husband, you had the perfect divorce....

???? The perfect divorce, eh? Sweet. Ugh. Sister Victim. The worst.

[mrdreamjeans.livejournal.com]

Not that it matters an iota, but when I read the words "never married", I always wonder. Did you have any indication your cousin might be gay? It's one explanation.

[susandennis]

I think he's probably asexual if anything. But, yeah, don't know, don't care.

[badrobot68.livejournal.com]

One cousin! I have about 10, I think...and I've known people who had more than 20 somehow! I'm not in contact with any of mine, but there's one I see every year when I'm back in AZ. No ill will on anyone's part, I just haven't seen any of the others since I was in my teens, and they mostly live in Indiana.

[zyzyly.livejournal.com]

Your brother seems like such a down-to-earth guy.

[maju01.livejournal.com]

My family, in contrast to yours, is huge. My father was one of ten and my mother was one of four, and many although not all of those had children. I think I've got 20+ cousins, but I'm not in close contact with any of them because we grew up in different states and didn't know each other.

I am one of six; five of us are married with two to four children each, and some of those children are married with children of their own. I've got grandchildren, nieces, nephews, great nieces, and great nephews coming out of my ears. I feel very lucky that we mostly get on well with each other.

[bill-schubert.livejournal.com]

Ditto

[susandennis]

:)

[silverthief2.livejournal.com]

I have a fair number of relatives where our relationship is well-defined by "mutual indifference." There are too many of them in too many parts of the world to keep up with, so it's really a relief.