My Cousins

For the longest time, there were seven Wenck cousins.  Then numbers eight and nine came along, but they were - for a long time - considered too young to participate in certain activities with us older seven.  Of the seven, I was the oldest, and therefore, the perceived wisest.  I was going to grow up and become rich and take the top seven to Hawaii.  I can't recall exactly where that idea came from, or whose brainchild it was.  But the idea was well received by the bunch and lived on in many a conversation. 

I did grow up - of course - and, as you know, I'm not rich.  As my cousins know, the trip to Hawaii didn't happen (yet).  And because things change, I'm not necessarily the wisest anymore (not sure I ever was) even though I'm still the oldest.  I'm not upset about losing that spot; my cousins are doing great things and certainly deserve the top honor: Molly is about to be a doctor.  Emily is about to be a mother.  Jenna, who has spent the last couple of summers exploring Alaska, just graduated from college.  Nick is in college, and Rose (#8) will be after she graduates from high school this year.  My sister, of course, is one of the seven, and she's wonderful for a million reasons that I don't need to list here because you've met her many times before.  The cousin I want to highlight in this post, though, is Aaron.  He has traveled all over the world for work and for study, and he's become an amazing photographer along the way.  If you haven't already checked out his site, which I added to my sidebar a couple of weeks ago, please do so now.  He's captured some brilliant and breathtaking scenes from places all over the globe.  I'm so proud to be able to introduce you to Aaron and his work.  Maybe he'll be taking us to Hawaii.  You know, when he grows up and gets rich, since that's apparently the way it's supposed to work.