My cousins’ 50th anniversary

There are times in all of our lives when we wish we could be in two places at one time. And the older we get, and the more precious the times that we can spend with those we love, the more we wish we could be in two places at one time.

And boy does that hit home this weekend.

Because The Legal Genealogist is stuck at home this weekend, with obligations that can’t be changed, moved, rescheduled…

… and oh… do I ever want to be in Albuquerque. With these folks.

Dick is my second cousin, Julie his bride. And tomorrow afternoon, in Albuquerque, they and their family and friends are gathering to celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary.

This story begins many years ago when I had posted a message on what was then the Genealogy.com message board asking for information about my great grandfather Martin Gilbert Cottrell. Some months later, a reply was posted by a woman whose name I didn’t recognize at all: “Do you know of a Totsy Cottrell that is part of the M.G. Cottrell family?”

Totsy was my mother’s nickname. So, I wondered, who was this mysterious woman posting questions about my mother?

I answered with some details and ended my post with my own question: “May I ask what your connection is with my mother?”

And the reply nearly sent me over the brink. No information, just another question: “Was your mother married in Golden Colorado in the School of Mines chapel?”

Um… not exactly but that’s awfully close, so… lady … for cryin’ out loud, talk to me, will ya? (Okay, so I was a little more formal in my public response, but not much!!)

It turns out the poster was a researcher looking into our family for my mother’s cousin Fred, the man who walked her down the aisle at that wedding. Fred had some interest in the family history, but, it turned out, the ones who were really interested were Fred’s nephew Dick and his wife Julie.

We began writing, then arranged a visit. And rarely in my life have I ever spent time with anyone with whom I was so immediately at ease. Lovely folks, people you just feel good about being related to.

They’ve had their ups and downs in the years since we met in person. Some fabulous travels (even ending up in the middle of the Egyptian turmoil at one point). Some health issues that plague them still. And they remain — always and forever — lovely folks, people you just feel good about being related to.

And, sigh, tomorrow afternoon, in Albuquerque, they and their family and friends are gathering to celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary.

Would that I could be there with them. But I’ll just have to settle for wishing them the very happiest of wedding anniversaries… and many more happy anniversaries to come.