Thursday, May 29, 2014
I am probably the one person most unlike the rest of my family on either side of my parents families.
On my Mum's side, all my cousins grew up in the area which our families originated from (rural Saskatcewan). They're all pretty tight. I was more likely to have meaningful conversation with an aunt or an uncle than a cousin but most often just hanging out somewhere with myself.
On my Dad's side all my family, in particular my cousins, grew up in the "big city" of Edmonton.
I and my brother on the other hand, grew up in the proverbial middle - the small city of Lloydminster.
In short, I am nothing like my brother or any of my cousins. I share little to no interests with them, I am not in the same narrow age group as most if not all of them. And I'm a pretty introverted type so truly, I don't really connect with any of them. As much my fault as anyone's really. It's just the way it is.
That didn't however, stop Rick from connecting with me here and there. Oh, like anyone I'd see everyone at obligatory family events, holidays and celebrations. Sit at the same kids table growing up and across from everyone at the big family get toghether. That aside though, thoughout my life, I don't recall anyone but Rick ever calling me up and saying "Hey, I'm in town, let's get together and do something".
He did that one year when I was, oh who knows - fourteen or fifteen maybe - and he was visiting Lloyd on a long weekend or something. With no other transportation available we walked clear across Lloydminster to get to the only McDonalds in town to find a burger only to find it closed for the holiday. So we wandered our way back home again.
Every year as far back as I recall Rick would call one or twice a year. Every year I'd get a call from him just before Christmas. Not the "Hey how are you, oh ... can you help me fix my computer" kind of call. He'd call just to reach out, chat and say Merry Christmas. Oh, don't think sometimes that conversation wasn't a little awkward being very different people and all. I'm sure there were the telephone equivalents of "a smile and a nod" on both side. But we could spend up to an hour just catching up which I am sure is more than I would with any other extended family combined; over the last few years.
Some years it would be a random call, for no reason. Not often, but every couple years when I would see an unfamiliar Saskatchewan phone number pop up and hear "Hey couz" when I answered.
For a guy who always felt like a stranger amongst his own family, Rick never made me feel that way even when it was true. We didn't have to be best buds or even really be much alike.
Rick talked a few times about a campout he, Terry and Brad took most years. A May long weekend I think, or another long weekend. I never did connect up to go with them, but I wanted to; and it didn't stop him from telling me I should join them. Sometimes being invited is enough when you know the invite is genuine.
Sometimes so little can mean so much.
Even thought we didn't do a lot together, I'll miss you "cuz'". And I appreciated you taking the time to call more than you probably knew.
Derek
