the Business of Cousin Play

 Because my family is spread across the world, we plan our vacations months in advance in fits and starts via email. Christmases are spent at our house, but when we manage to get together in the summer, it's usually in California, thanks to the generosity of my sister's in-laws who open up their beach house to us. After all the planning and coordination, and long flights from France, New York, and Ohio, it never seems short of miraculous when we all come together that first night around the dinner table.

Regardless of how long it's been, the cousins never waste any time getting down to the business of play. Even though they may be shy around their aunts and uncles, the connection between the kids is uninterrupted, and they simply pick up right where they left off, giggling and telling secrets.

The fact that they get to do that on a gorgeous California beach is a nice bonus, but whether they're stuck inside in a freezing Ohio winter or building sandcastles in the sun, the laughter and fun still reign.