Cousin Maria

No she’s not my cousin. She’s not even my friend's cousin. She’s my friends wife’s cousin. Up until a few weeks ago I wasn’t even sure she truly existed. Now the legend has been made real.

Cousin Maria has been a topic of discussion among my crowd of friends for quite a while now. I felt like I’ve known her forever- she’s one of those people that your friends and co-workers talk about all the time but you never meet. Maybe they came to pick them up but stayed in the car, or they just left when you got there. Todd often invites me and our friend Pete to his family events and we’ve met most of his wife’s extended family- many times. There are Cousin Donna, Cousin Threesa (alleged sisters to Maria) sisters Cathy and Margaret and of course other assorted parents, aunts, uncles and kids. But never Cousin Maria.

We only heard about the glories of Cousin Maria and how she was the “leader” of the cousins. Maria always has something going on and is the center of whatever that is. If Maria wants there to be a party – there will be a party and it will be a good one (I’ve heard) Many family plans get co-ordinated through Maria. Todd mentioned her so much over the last five years but she was always conveniently absent when ever we were around. One time she sent her husband over to a party but she couldn't come. Hmm. Pete and I decided that Maria was just a figment of Todd’s imagination. Maria said this, Maria did this, Maria is down the shore, Maria lives down this street- sure Todd – anything you say. Other mutual friends had even claimed to have met her- we still thought it was a set up masterminded by Todd.

Finally a few weeks ago I had occasion to meet Cousin Maria (I'm not sure she has a last name - its always been Cousin Maria) Todd made a point of introducing me. I told her I was glad she really existed. She was glad too. She also told me that when Todd first started dating her cousin they didn't believe he existed. She never brought him around and they thought his name sounded fake.

Well now I know Cousin Maria is no fake. She is as charming and outgoing as I had been led to believe. Hopefully, I'll get a chance to hang out with her again sometime soon. Oh, and Pete needs to meet her too- he doesn't trust me.