|
Brandon
I probably have about 100 cousins.
Keaira
We are second cousins, I think. My mother and his father are cousins.
Brandon
The youngest member is turning two.
Keaira
The oldest member just died a little while ago. The oldest members right now are in their eighties.
You get to hear the stories about people you wouldn't know about -- or just in normal passing you wouldn't do research about -- but it opens new doors. You hear, "Oh yeah, my cousin Jamie is down the road and she's going into government and she is making great headway there," and then you can go and tell someone else. And it's just like a connection. Like I am connected all over the United States, and I know if ever I needed anything, I have people that are there to help me and surround me. And that is one of the best things about family reunions, because you find your resources -- you find who's really there for you.
Brandon
It brings me happiness. I feel protected.
Keaira
Charity and Levin had 18 children. One of their children was Charles, who had a son named Charles, who had a son named Charles, who had a son named Clarence, who had a son named Kenneth, who had a daughter named Kimberly, who had me.
Brandon
I don't know who I came from.
Keaira
You could ask someone at the family reunion.
The great thing is that we invite people to just come and share in the family camaraderie. People who don't have a big family, maybe just a grandparent or something... We say, "come along, come join us, we'll be your family -- we'll be your adoptive family -- we'll hold you and give you that security." We don't worry about race, creed -- nothing.
A little aside, my cousin is getting married. And she is marrying someone who is Greek. And I look at them and say, wow, we are expanding even more. We're going to have our own big fat Greek wedding! Their family is big too. And they're all coming to the family reunion.
|
