Tim

When we were growing up, he seemed so much older than I was. Rick and Mike seemed like my peers. Jim, Dave, and Tim seemed much older. But Tim was only two years senior to me. I don't think that ever struck me until this week.

In the warm months, we'd always walk together to the ballpark and play. I was never as athletic as my cousins, to my dad's dismay. But they never shunned me or made me feel inferior. It always seemed like a couple of them would get into a dust-up over something. I think it was usually lack of hustle or some other attitude issue. It seems to me it was always Tim and Mike in the middle of it, with Tim not able to put up with Mike's issues. As an only son who only had a sister, the fighting was intimidating to me. (I had a good friend who was the same way with his older brother.) But all of my cousins looked out for me.

I miss you already, cousin. Pray for me. God knows I need it.