Family

So last night I went to eat with my cousin Nick, his wife Mandy, and their 3 little girls. I haven't seen this cousin since I was little probably around 12 or 14 or something like that. Dinner was nice and conversation was good. But it kind of makes you sad when you don't even know your own family. Nick said he didn't really remember me at all, which is kind of hard to hear. I kind of remember him because we always stayed with his family while we did are semi-annual trips to Utah for my Dad's family reunion.
So I grew up in a family where it really was just my parents and us kids. We didn't really have much contact with any of the rest of my family. The only 2 times I ever saw my mom's family was when everyone came out to see Grandma Ivy (mom's mom) kind of before she died and when Grandma died I saw them again. But Uncle Tony is the exception because he actually comes tome visit us.
For my dad's side the only time we ever saw them is when we made the 2 day trip (almost always in car, but there were a couple of train rides, and a flight or 2) to go out there. They never have come to see us. It's kind of sad to grow up in a family where you don't even know your cousins. But I guess that's what you get when both of your parents move away from family you don't get that cousin bonding thing.
So then you have Joe's family who he grew up with his aunts, uncles, and cousins like they were a real family. So I almost wish we had something like that, but it won't happen with my family because we are every where now. It's crazy. I feel like I barely know my own family anymore. I guess maybe I'm just hormonal, but I wish I knew my family more and weren't so far away.