You ever met someone and feel like you’ve known them a lifetime? Lost touch but know you could pick up exactly where you left off? That’s how I felt about my cousin, Justin. I got a call one day that my Uncle Steve’s son was in town and it was suggested that maybe I could show him around. In towns like Swansea and Pelion there wasn’t much to show so I invited him to a mud bog with some friends. I knew we were cut from the same cloth when he hopped in and “Is that Heart playing? Ok, we are going to get along fine.”
That night included driving down my high school’s walkway and me taking off my oversized outfit to reveal my redneck mud bog attire underneath, while driving. These facts are important because the next day he quickly let Aunt Donna and Uncle Steve know I was not the good girl that the family thought I was. After one outing he had managed to blow my cover. Haha! After of course forgiving him we became pretty close that summer. He got to know my best friends and even my close cousin from my Mom’s side. One time she, I, and a blind date went to a show of Justin’s. The blind date and I did NOT hit it off at all. After the show the 4 of us hung out and my female cousin seemed to have more in common with my date than I did, so Justin and I chatted while they did. Justin told me next time run the date by him because he could have told me we were no match the moment he saw him and could have saved me some time. Lol!
On top of funny, Justin had a huge heart. He was protective and thoughtful. I remember right before he left for home he gave me my first fishing rod. I cherished that thing more than he knew. He was also laid back, super intelligent, and one of a kind. One of the few people who didn’t question why my Grandpa’s mustang with the leaky roof was better than a brand new car to me. One of the few I could go to the lake with and just sit. One of the few who just “got me” and accepted me for who I was. Our time together was short but it meant more than I’m sure he knew and I’d love to still be able to tell him that.
The world lost a good one. Rest easy Justin. Love always, your little cousin.