Goodbye, Cousin Clemmy. Goodbye.

This is a bittersweet week.

Cousin Clemmy (pictured here with his pony tail) is leaving!
And we are very sad :(

He has spent the last year in Oklahoma and is heading back home to California.
And I have come to terms with the fact that we will never again live in the same state.

It makes me sad.

He is, after all, one of my oldest and dearest friends.

Cousin Clemmy and Andrew at church.

So, in honor of Cousin Clemmy's departure, here are some interesting facts about me and him:

1. We are not blood related. 

It is only through marriage that I may call him 'cousin'.

2. I have known Cousin Clemmy since he was 9.
That's more than half his life.

3. When we were younger, we would have screaming contests in his backyard.

He always won. Always.

The dude has the loudest, blood-curling shriek I've ever heard in my life.

4. Cousin Clemmy introduced me to my now husband (aka his actual blood relative) when I was 15.

5. People often ask me if Cousin Clemmy is my brother.

I guess we must look similar. 

It has to be the long hair :)
Or the fact that we're both laid-back Californians.

6. I consider Cousin Clemmy to be like a second brother to me.

We have had plenty of ups and downs over the last 11 years.
But we always seem to end up laughing after all is said and done.

7. We both think it's strange that two kids who used to be next-door neighbors in California ended up becoming related by marriage and living in the same small town in Oklahoma.

I mean, how often does that happen?

Stranger than fiction?

Well, Cousin Clemmy, it has been a pleasure to have you here in Oklahoma.

We will all miss you.

Especially the dog.

He really seems to like you.

Cousin Clemmy and Aaron goofing off.

Thank you for introducing me to Les Miserables, Rips, and Ecclesiastes. 

And for waiting to see the Great Gatsby with me.

Pryor will not be the same without you.