I remember when I was just nine years old. We exchanged emails and phone calls in preparation for my visit. We traded ideas and thoughts about our plans for when I arrived. Those conversations fed me happiness and excitement, for I was going to see my best friend.
It is classic to say that we all have that one person- that one person who made a significant impact in your life- that one person who you truly could not live without. For me, I got lucky; my other half is a cousin. This girl continues to watch me grow, witness my experiences, see my success and failures. That one person has remained in my life since I was an infant, and she will be with me until I can no longer remember her name.
At the age of nine, we used to contact one other to talk about future plans. When I was younger, I used to live several states away from her, but this distance did not deter our relationship. Whenever I would visit my cousin, my entire family and I would drive hours and stay overnight for the holidays or special occasions. These visits provided me with my best memories from childhood.
We used to reenact High School Musical; this was an intense process. My cousin and I were so thoroughly convinced that we were the world’s greatest producers and choreographers that we made her brothers audition in order to participate in our production. For the five days that I was there, we spent time making playbills, rehearsing, selling tickets, and then finally, we put on our production for the family.
Maybe these memories from childhood seem pointless to you, but take a look back and remember- try to identify a memory where you can say, wow, we were so embarrassing, or wow, why did we even do that?
These memories are times in which I have never felt so alive, so happy with my surroundings. These parts of childhood where our imagination skyrocketed were the best times ever; despite the minor embarrassments, I would not exchange it for anything. My other half allowed my imagination to soar; together, we truly felt like the world’s greatest directors, producers, actors and singers.
Nine years later, after putting on that first production, my cousin and I are still inseparable. Our loyalty exceeds any relationship and our connection is the strongest it has ever been. Now that we are in college, almost five hours away from one another, I really do miss the time spent together. We tend to appreciate things when we are not able to easily have them, and yes, I am completely guilty of that.
My cousin was not just a person that I created memories with, she also served as an adviser, a woman that I could seek guidance. She provided answers to any questions, fears, requests. She was the one who shoved me into place when I fell off- she possessed the ability to transform my mood within a minute. I really thank her for that, without her, I do not think I would have been able to survive the drama of high school- I do not think I would have been capable of doing it alone.
Words cannot describe how much I appreciate my cousin- they cannot describe the depths of gratitude I have for her. Thank you for being my rock, my person to lean on when I needed it the most. Thank you for being you- you never changed. You always remained passionate, confident, and strong- do not ever change that. Our journeys separated from one another are supposed to be difficult, but do not let anything stand in your path. Follow your path, and I will meet you half way.
Wherever our crazy journeys take us, regardless of the distance, you will always be my other half, you will always be my savior, you will always be the Chad to my Troy.
