Speak now, because forever is a long time....

One year ago, I wished my cousin a happy birthday.  Two years older than me, but only one grade ahead in school, we grew up in the same small town and the same smaller church, which means we saw a lot of each other.  And it wasn't always fun.  But he was a part of my growing up, always there, ever present, solid and dependable.  Over time, I didn't even mind the nickname he called me, because I knew it was said out of affection, although he likely wouldn't have admitted it.  From the outside it probably didn't appear that we were close, but over the years we forged a weird, but important, relationship of love and support that meant a lot to each of us.