We just got back from Easter dinner at my sister’s place.

And I’m feeling grateful.

It was a lovely family gathering. Most of my immediate family was there.  The only ones missing were our son and his family and two nieces and a nephew.

But my sister also invited some of our cousins. We had representation from both sides of the family tree.

Tim and Sheila from my father’s side.

Mark, Kathleen, Paul, and Jane from my mother’s side. And Jane was here all the way from Ireland!

As we chatted, I thought about how much I took their presence for granted when I was a kid. Most of them I would see once or twice a year. Because we lived in Quebec and the cousins lived in Ontario.

Except for Jane, of course. She lived in Ireland, so we rarely saw her.

Now, I don’t take them for granted. It’s a treat to spend an evening with them.

Especially since most of our parents have passed on. We are the senior generation. The elders.

Time is precious. Being able to get together is a gift.

There’s something about the easy comfort of talking with someone you’ve known for decades.

I hope my kids feel the same way about their cousins when they get to my age.