Cousin Petey

Jeffrey Stein, my cousin in law, just sent me a video (very Mary Tyler Moore- ish) that inspired the following. Petey knew way back she’d live her life “in the moment.” It’s at this moment I had to write this …

I’ve got some amazing relatives. Accomplished, loving. And just fun. None of them is more unique than my cousin Petey.

I’ve known her for … well, all my life really. She’s like a sister to me. She’s energetic. You know. Like the bunny. She’s curious. Very. Listens well … sometimes. Has strong opinions and values both equally strong. Can be devilish at times too. Can get into stuff she could, might want to avoid. That’s Ok. What a personality my cousin Petey is . What a character.

I just love her so.

We live three thousand miles apart. But because I devoutly believe there is never distance between us … any of us. Petey and I are always connected. Always “on.” It only takes throwing the “switch” when on the phone for us to touch each other. Regardless the time between our conversations.

We can talk for hours. So much material. Such laughter. We share common thought processes. We’re both far “right brained.” Intensely interested in people, human dynamics and interaction. Relationships are everything.

As with my best friendships, Petey and I share great history. As the video above played, Petey was striding down a sidewalk. “Boy, look how she walks. Just like her mom. And her sister too!” Without the history I would never have noticed this.

Petey has never looked her age. Too young growing up. Wonderfully young as she’s grown older … and look! So young, and beautiful today. See that smile. If not beaming on her face at the moment, it’s never far from the surface.

My cousin has worked successfully in many places. Had a marvelous career as a recruiting specialist. She’s recruited hundreds of people for large and small companies alike. She has a sixth sense. An extra gear. An uncanny ability to read people that her clients have tapped into. Benefited from for decades.

My cousin Petey is now in her late 70s … hasn’t lost her fastball. Her spark and ability to relate to others hasn’t faded one bit.

My sense?

I think Petey somehow has a unique way of always being able to feel she’s the age of the person in front of her. In essence … she has amazing capacity for social mobility. She can relate to anyone.

No surprise my cousin was named “2018 Citizen of the Year” in her hometown of Belvedere, CA. Her volunteering has too been a signature part of her life.

While cousin Petey’s accomplishments are many. Her family is the center of her life. She and Jeffrey were recently blessed with the birth of two beautiful grandchildren? This has become a glorious highlight for them both in later years.

I’ll close with my most distinct memory of my cousin. Our families all convened every Christmas at my grandparent’s grand home in Wayne, PA. Always a joyous gathering. I used to stand in the living room peeking at the front door. Anxiously looking for cousin Petey. Then, there she was. Waving … huge smile. Always made the day for me that much more special.

But then that’s her. Smiling, waving today. Reaching out to others. Over sixty years later. And oh … if you get a chance to see Petey with her grandchildren? This will be the best way for you to get the full sentiment of my message here. Thanks for it all Cous’

Love,

Cousin Bobby