4 Friday, April 10, 2020brooklintowncrier.com Cousins Our Brooklin Kids By Leanne Brown Our university aged niece had her school year end early due to COVID-19 and she moved in with us just before the "Stay at home" mandate came into place. What was supposed to be a few weeks is undoubtedly going to be a lot longer. But I don't mind at all. With our daughter being an only child, social distancing is especially hard as she has no siblings to hang out with. Yes, you can do the virtual thing, but it isn't quite the same. Yet with her cousin here, it's as if she suddenly got the big sister she's always wanted. Cousins are special, like friends and siblings rolled into one. I used to love visiting with my own cousins as a child. I remember fun games of tag, building snow forts and loud, out-of-control Christmas visits where entirely too much sugar was consumed. In my daughter's case, she hasn't had much interaction with her older cousin before now. Distance and the 10 year age gap made it difficult for them to socialize. But now, that 10 years seems to be no barrier. Is it because they are kind of stuck with each other due to the quarantine? Maybe. But I also see two young ladies making up for lost time. All those years have melted away as I see them bond over music, makeup, and sports. In times of crisis, we often find those special moments when we weren't even looking for them. So, while this is a time that will define our generation, it will also allow relationships to strengthen, families to get closer and, for some, a chance to be thankful for surprises, like time with a special cousin. As I watch the girls giggle over a bedtime bowl of fruit loops, I am thankful that this global event brought my niece our way. For without her, I would be doing a lot more TikTok videos.