Last night was great fun, one of those therapeutic times when you laugh and laugh and laugh.

My Uncle Mark and Aunt Susie were out from Boulder, Colorado, where they've lived since 1969. He retired this spring after a whole career, 40-some years, with IBM. Mark is my mom's younger brother. As I write, Mark and Mom are attending their high school's reunion. This was not a big school--Uncle Mark's class had 17 students--and the school doesn't exist anymore, so basically the reunions include anyone who ever attended that school regardless of year.

Last night, we all met for supper at Balyeats, a wonderful home-cooking restaurant in downtown Van Wert, Ohio. I'd heard how great it was, but hadn't eaten there. A serious omission in my life. The swiss steak was incredible. Mark and Susie also brought their daughter (my youngest cousin) Wendy, who is eight years younger than me. Plus Wendy's two young children (husband Curt, a veterinarian, remained back in rural Wyoming keeping the wildlife healthy).

During the meal, and later at the Holiday Inn Express where they were staying, we gabbed and reminisced and laughed wonderfully. My parents have always been close to Mark and Susie, and they carry on when they're together. Pam and I got a glimpse of that some years ago when we joined all of them at Mark and Susie's house in Boulder for several days. We had a great time.

Wendy, my cousin, is a real hoot. Very expressive, with a quick wit. Both of her parents are quick-witted, but Wendy tops them. She's just a delightful girl. I really didn't know her as a kid growing up; we older cousins preferred to avoid Wendy and my brother Rick, the two youngest. Our loss. Wendy is just doggone fun.

I'm not saying anything specific here. No stories for you to envision. I do have stories. Things that made us laugh. But you had to be there. And you weren't, so what do you care? I'm just thrilled to have relatives like this. And I'm dismayed that, because of the distance, I see them so seldom.