At home with a tummy bug and feeling sorry ...

... for myself I opened my email client and found a letter from one of my wife's cousins encouraging everyone (on the distribution list) to call, write, or text to Cousin Cindy who is dying from cancer.
Tummy bugs are inconsequential when you consider what else is happening in the world and each of us would do well to thank God every day for the blessings He affords us.
As I am an only child, brought up by my mother and grandmother and having no contact to speak of with other family members , it constantly amazes me when I witness my wife's family "in action"
On the news of Cindy's worsening condition my mother in law, her sisters and brother, without hesitation, drove from South Texas through Louisiana and Tennessee, picking up a convoy of cousins en-route, and made their way to Virginia to provide moral support and encouragement to Cindy and her immediate family. Other cousins flew in to visit and the result is that email encouraging us all to make contact.
From the email:
"Cindy is going away, and she'd love to hear from her cousins. Every, single one of them. No matter how long it's been since you've seen her. There is no funeral out there. It is a going away party. There is still time to check in on it, and phoning it in is fine."
I met her only once, at a family reunion in 2001, but her courage and faith are an inspiration to me and I marvel at the outpouring of family love and support.
Of course I don't know why I should marvel at it because I've seen it demonstrated in happier circumstances too. When my wife came home from holiday in 1998 and announced that she intended to marry a crazy Scotsman she had known for only two weeks everybody supported her decision and welcomed me into the family. It is only fitting that they should rally around and provide support at this time too.
So, this post is for Cindy, the picture is just a pretty flower which grew in my yard, I know not what it is but I hope you like it. Thank you for being my wife's cousin and friend.