My Cousin Died

Posted by Cyndi Allison Mar 8, 2008

My sister drove over to tell me. My cousin died. She was only 25 years old.

My cousin was a model right out of high school. I guess someone suggested that she lose a few pounds. She did - not just a few. She was 5'7" and almost certainly under 100 lbs when she died.

The pressures on this generation are awful. Expectations are off the charts.

I, of course, went in for the funeral. My cousin lived with me a while during high school. I adored her, but I worried a lot about her lifestyle choices. She made some really bad ones.

I assumed my usual duty of logging in the food brought in at my aunt's home and packing up the treats and storing them. I do not do well just sitting. I need some kind of job to keep me busy. Southern food and keeping lists works for me during funeral times. It's much better than sitting and just thinking.

It was hard losing my cousin. Harder still to see her two boys - ages 3 years and 6 months. They didn't understand. The youngest will certainly not even remember his mother. How sad.

Food is not the enemy. Don't stave yourself to death. Don't turn to drugs to manage your weight. It's not worth it. Love yourself - fat or thin or in between. If you really can't do it for yourself, then think of your babies and your loved ones. Even if you think you don't count for much, your loved ones do. Trust me. I know. I'd love to have my cousin back. I know her boys would too.