Cousins can be almost anybody. I could probably write about the guy at the meat store and be able to research and find out that he is a Nth generation cousin. However, when I think about cousins I think first about my first cousins. So, when the topic of cousins came up I decided to go to my first cousins. Rather than write extensively about any one cousin (Who would I pick?), I chose to write brief stories and memories of my McCracken first cousins.
Steve, Mark, & Stan
Steve, Mark, and Stan stayed on the farm during the summer. This was a shock to my mom, who had never had to feed teenage boys who were also doing physical work. She said that she could never make enough food and that she learned that if she wanted something, she better set some aside or it would be all be gone before she got one bite. This was especially true with Steve and ice cream as he loved it and could eat large amounts of it at one sitting.
Although I was tiny at the time, I remember riding up on top of the cab of “the Minesweep,” Dad’s big old farm truck with Steve and (I think) Mark. If Mom saw me up there, I am sure she was beside herself.
Steve and Stan didn’t even go into town with Dad that often prompting their mom to ask, “Aren’t you ever going to bring my boys home?”
But, one of Dad’s favorite stories was about Mark putting a hay hook, hook-side up, on the tractor seat. Ouch! Mark laughed about that story. Dad, not so much!
Sky & Vance
When our Grandma McCracken died, Sky, Vance, Ann, and I were together when the usher was seating the family. As Sky approached the row to be seated, the usher informed him that there wouldn’t be room for both him and his wife in that row. Sky was not quite 17. We assume the usher thought I was the wife as I was following him.
I guess I was robbing the cradle as I was 4 years older and apparently married not only to my cousin, but also to someone under age. In the usher’s defense, I do believe Sky had a mustache.
Of course, as brothers, Sky and Vance were often together doing things. When we went to visit one time when they were young, we found them waiting on the front porch. When we drove in, Vance informed us that they weren’t sure it was us. They thought it might be some bums.
And, there was the time with the two of them, the garage, and some fire, but we won’t go into that one!
Lee
Lee was eight years older than me, but oddly during each of our college years we unknowingly became friends with the same person. I am not sure how Lee met the person, but he happened to be best friends with my roommate’s boyfriend. The two of us became friends and were the maid of honor and best man for our friends’ wedding.
I am not sure how Lee and I figured out that we knew the same person. But, my sister remembers meeting the person when Lee brought him home from college with him many years earlier.
Ava & Glenda
As a part of her job at a radio station, Ava accompanied a group of people to Kansas City to see the Royals play. Well, Dad happened to go with his bowling team to the same game.
Well, Ava, as she always did, came up and gave Dad a huge hug. Dad never explained to the guys who this very pretty, young woman was that gave him a hug.
To add to the confusion, one night Glenda stopped by the bowling alley. What did she do? She gave Dad a big hug. Dad loved to tell the stories about the nice looking young women giving him hugs – and he liked that the guys had no idea why he was attracting these women.
Cindy
When we were young Cindy loved to play olden days. She romanticized the years gone by and wanted others to join her in her fantasy world.
However, she was not nearly as fond of playing school, which was my favorite activity. Of course, it might have had something to do with the fact that I actually expected my pupils to do school work.
Doug
I was in junior high school when Doug was a student teacher at the high school on the same campus. Everyone ate at the cafeteria in the junior high school building. Thus, Doug would walk over with the other teachers to have lunch. When he did, he would always say, “Hi!” if he saw me.
Well, he was a nice looking young man and all the junior high girls – especially the popular ones – couldn’t figure out why this student teacher who was good looking would be talking to me. Well, he was my cousin! But, like Dad, I didn’t tell them because they didn’t need to know.
Gilbert
Gilbert (a.k.a. Gib, Gil) was in the Air Force for many years. He also loved the Lord and after he retired he became a member of the Christian Motorcyclists Association and provided ministry in prisons.
Jo
Mom was very confused when she first met Jo. Dad had talked about Jo and Karla, but he had neglected to tell her that Jo was a girl.
When Jo graduated from high school, my sister and I, who were much younger, had photos taken of us modeling her graduation cap and gown.
Heather
Growing up, Heather always wanted to be more grown up that she was. She was always pretending to be older. I remember going with her (my older cousin drove if I recall correctly) to Wichita State University to see people she knew when she wasn’t anywhere close to college age.
I imagine that perspective has changed now.
Karla
From a young age, Karla was really good with horses. I think she inherited that skill from grandma, who loved horses, especially her horse Beauty.
We didn’t use horses to farm like the previous generation, but Karla and I both worked in the fields baling hay. Interestingly, we both remember how patient the other ones’ father was when working with us. I do imagine there was more patience when working with a niece than when working with a daughter.
Dallas
When Mom and Dad got married, Dallas, who was always full of questions at that age, asked Mom, “Why did you move? Did your house get too dirty?”
Carol
Carol and I shared the same flute. I don’t recall how I came to know she had a flute or even how I came to be interested in playing. However, I remember going to her family’s house to get it when I was in junior high.
I used it in band and took lessons from the high school band instructor. By the time it was retired, the case was held together with tape and shoe strings tied around it.
Correction: Carol informs me that it was actually her sister Glenda’s flute. For about 50 years I have thought it belonged to Carol.