...My cousin died last week. I didn't know her very well at all, I will guess to say I hadn't seen her in over 20 years and I don't remember her face. I remember hearing about her a lot over the years and she might have even shown up on the doorstep of the family home back when we lived in Brooklyn, but that was a long time ago.

Anyway LaTonia had problems with addiction for much of her adult life. Many families have someone in the fold that has problems and loves to live that life in the fast lane. Of course when you live fast (and your name isn't Keith Richards) you die quicker and I believe she was in her late 40s or early 50s when she passed on.

It's always a little strange and a little unnerving when a relative dies, especially one that was closer to my age bracket (which will be 31 on Monday). And I feel bad that she could never get the help she needed to fight and conquer her addictions. I guess I'm reminded of what the old dog said when he continued to go hunting with his owner despite years and years of wear and tear on his body. Every Saturday, the old dog would be waiting for for his owner to go on the hunt despite being slower and older than all the other dogs.

After one particularly grueling hunt that left the old dog worn down and beaten up the owner finally asked him what he still does it when he could just go off into the pasture with the other old dogs.

The old dog, licking his wounds, looked up at his owner at said, "You know me...I've had all I can take but not all that I want."

Labels: Death, Family