Seeing my cousin for the first time in 4 years tomorrow!

I am so excited! She is from Pittsburgh and we were really close when we were little. Her family used to pack in their van and come spend a few weekends with us and go to Sea World every summer. Then as we got older, we got involved in sports and they stopped coming out. The last time I saw her was her high school graduation party.
My mom and dad take my grandma out to PA when Gram is out here from AZ to see Annie's family. Well, my family was out there a few weeks ago and Annie's mom had said "Oh! Well Annie and Ryan are living in Cleveland now! They moved there during the summer!" Mom got Annie's contact information for me and vice versa and Annie and I have been in cantact via email the past week. We were planning on getting together today for the big football game but they fell through. So we made plans for them to come out tomorrow night and get pizza and catch up! I am so excited!

Sorry...just had to share

That sounds exciting!!! Have tons of fun and take lots of pictures!!!

Congrats!

Next Sunday I'm going to dinner at an Aunt and Uncle's house on my Mom's side that I haven't seen in at least 13 years, and prior to that the last time I saw them was at my Mom's funeral in 1978.

My Mom was the only girl in her family and when she got married and her last name changed, it seemed like her family almost disowned her or something. They still saw one another but it was always due to the fact that my mother initiated contact via phone or visits, and since my parent's died the only times my Mom's family ever initiates contact with my brother and I is if there is a death in the family.

The only non death event that we were ever notified about was an 88th birthday for my grandmother (who didn't even know me from Adam). My brother didn't want to go because he harbors a great deal of hate and annimosity towards my Mom's family, but I have let all that go years ago and I'm working on trying to get him to let it go too and to make a fresh start.

On Friday I ran into my Aunt and Uncle at the doctor's office and she invited us to dinner on the 18th. I convinced my brother to come along and try and make peace with the past.

I'm excited and a bit apprehensive because while they are my relatives they are also virtual strangers to me. I haven't seen any of their kids since I was a kid myself of probably 15 or 16 and I'm 45 now, save for the one time at my grandmother's 88th birthday 13 years ago.

You'll have a lot to catch up on, and it sounds like you were close with each other, so it is basically renewing friendships. Hope you have fun