Cheryl is the oldest. My first memory of Cheryl was when I was 10. She was around before I was ten, I just don’t remember those days. She graduated from high school when I was ten and we made the cross-country trip to Durand for her graduation. She was the only one of the cousins to spark a family reunion.
Cheryl is one of my closest cousins. I don’t feel any age difference when I am with her – I just feel the love. OK, she treats me like “the baby” and I’m not even the youngest. I love Cheryl.
Pegi is next in age. I love this woman. She waved at me in every photo I took (except one). Hi Pegi! (Waving back).
Parade wave, of course.
I only wish her husband, Dale, could have come. Dale is pretty cool. Her youngest son, Keith, came but I did not get any photos of him. I did, however, wave him down when he idled into the campground on his Harley. He must have sensed that I was a “Melrose” because he obeyed my wave and came over. I mean, would you just go over to a stranger waving at you??
“I’m too sexy for my shorts…” Oh wait, that’s a song by Right Said Fred. Wait. That was SHIRT.
Wait. That’s my BROTHER. Bother. Bother Brother.
Terry is next in line, age-wise.
Patti has had white hair for as long as I have known her.
Well, maybe just since she turned 21. I don’t know. It seems like she’s been white-haired forever. I do remember she had dark hair as a kid. She’s a tad younger than Terry. Janis (in the background) is next in age.
Patti is Cheryl & Pegi’s sister. Just in case you are trying to keep track.
Ellen cheering on her Aunt Patti.
Janis. Janis is a few months older than I am. She put this whole thing together. Her dad picked the site and everything went from there. She organized the games, the events, the camping, the food. Janis is awesome.
I love you Janis.
My sweetheart with my cousins Cheryl & Pegi. I swear that is *not* dog poop in Pegi’s hands. I don’t know what it is, but it is *not* dog poop.
Not shown: Val (she was out shopping) & Wendy (she turned her head in every photo I took that had her in it).
Also not shown: Tori (she stayed in Wisconsin. She lost her youngest daughter this spring. Times are hard for her right now) & Jonn, the “baby” (he was chained to his job).
Next year, we’ll all try to gather in Wisconsin to celebrate the nuptials of cousin Aaron and lovely Heather. Heather is assimilated: this is the second family reunion she’s braved.
The time was too short and now it’s back to regular life without my cousins.
Randi, Val, Danielle, Jerry, Tad, Ellen, Heather, Aaron, Terry, Pegi, Lloyd, Wendy, Patti, George (and Bubba) & Jan.
I miss you guys!!
Jaci Dawn 
It was FUN!!!!!!