Family in Real Life

Sorry this was late today but it's been a whirlwind few days. 

I have family all over the world. Literally. I actually know and communicate with third cousins who we share childhood memories!  I have one set of relatives who live in Holland who are my fourth cousins. For those who don't quite follow the family line my fourth cousin and I share the same Great Great Great grandparent ! Pretty cool huh? 

Well a little more realistically I am blessed to have a first cousin and his family who are relocating to the same state as me. That means that the last few days have been spent looking at so many houses and neighborhoods and schools that my head is still spinning! 

On the bright side in about six weeks we'll all be in the same state. I'm looking forward to one day attending my niece and nephews graduations and hopefully I'll still be around for weddings and maybe even their children - of course that has a way to go since the youngest is still in elementary school - LOL !  

Do you keep in touch with cousins? 

Also, even with all the house hunting, I've still been tinkering with one of two new series. I really hope y'all are going to like it! 

here's a sneak peek at the opening paragraphs: 

“Are you trying to give me a heart attack?” Kyle Baron’s sister Beth threw her purse onto the white leather sofa on the family yacht and stood with her hands on her hips. “Do you have any idea how many years you just shaved off of my life?”
With only one hand, Kyle poured himself a drink.
“A little early in the day to start drinking, don’t you think?”
“It would be if it were something stronger than cola.” He took a slow sip of the fizzing drink. “I gather SOANDSO called you?”
“He. Did.”
The sharpness in his sister’s voice made the hackles on the back of his neck rise. He did his best not to wince at the venomous tone. “Do I want to know what he said?”
Her hands still fisted firmly on her hips, she stared daggers at him. “I was informed, in a voice mail, that you went sky diving. That alone wasn’t alarming considering speed and risk go hand and hand with you. We’re all used to it. The problem is the next part. Apparently you had a little accident.”
He didn’t dare meet her gaze.
“How the hell do you have a little accident falling thousands of feet out of an airplane?”
“You don’t.”
“Exactly.” Now her foot was tapping. “I had visions of your body splattered across miles of empty field. Piece by bloody piece.”
Now he did wince.
“Thank heaven’s the hospital informed me you were alive before I called Mom or worse, the Governor and Grams. News like you’d been in a skydiving accident could have sent all three of them to their graves. At least all I need now is for my hairdresser to hide the newly sprouted strands of gray.”
He really would have to have a chat with SOANDSO about what information was shared with his next of kin. In Kyle’s profession, there just might be a day when he really was sprawled piece by piece across a track and voice mail was not how he wanted his family told.  “I’m sorry. Really.”
Finally, on a long slow breath, her hands fell to her sides and a softer expression washed over her face. “Why couldn’t you have been an accountant?”
That made him chuckle. His entire life his mother had tried to steer him in the direction of a stable career. What she really meant was safe. Sadly for his mother’s nerves, few things in life could beat the adrenaline rush of coming across the finish line at almost 200 mph. If there was a thrill involved, whether it was on land, on the water, or in the air, Kyle was all in. 

Okay- I'm calling it a night - see y'all next week!