Some families are tight-knit. Sons, daughter, mothers, fathers, aunts and uncles get together on an almost weekly basis for dinner, coffee, nights at the movie or just to talk. Every event is an outing that inspires relatives to attend.
Not so with the Hewlett clan. For as long as I can remember Hewletts and their spouses have only gathered for Christmas, weddings and funerals. Occasionally one of us turns 50 or 70 and we'll all gather at a predetermined location, like elephants called to their legendary graveyard, and celebrate and/or mourn.
Whenever Hewletts meet, there are promises made between cousins and uncles and aunts to get together for lunch, coffee or a movie. To keep in touch between these milestones and behave, well, like family.
Then Christmas rolls around again and the same promises are made. No one has died recently. Ditto married. We're working on that.
It was the same story this past Christmas. My cousin Peter and I made plans to get together last Thursday for his birthday, but he wasn't turning 50 or 70, so the party didn't happen.
But colour me surprised when I was doing a story at Harper Mountain on Sunday and who should cross my path but cousin Peter.
"Sorry I didn't call you, cuz. We didn't end up doing anything," Peter said.
"Don't worry about it," was my response.
Peter, Cindy and the kids were skiing and tubing as part of a birthday party. We made plans to meet later this week for coffee or a drink. I even wrote down his cellphone number on my handy-dandy reporter's notebook. Can't say I have that luxury at Christmas.
Not three minutes went by before I ran into Samantha, another cousin, and her children and boyfriend. We hadn't seen each other for at least two Christmases. It's a long story.
"It's so good to see you," she said, and gave me a hug. Given that I hadn't dressed for the mountain, the hug was doubly appreciated.
This conversation lasted a little longer than the one with Peter. We talked about work and respective spouses and made plans to meet for a coffee soon.
"We have to keep in touch, Jay," she said. I agreed, and promised to Facebook her. That's how hip people keep in touch these days.
I went into the lodge to get warm and bumped into Neal Aronowski and his wife Shelly. Neal is my mom's best friend's son, which in Hewlett speak makes him a member of my extended family.
Neal and I used to be close, but we don't see each other as much as I'd like these days. We had a conversation similar to the other two. More promises were made to get together.
I reunited with Daily News photographer Keith Anderson and we decided to head back to town, our story complete.
"How'd it go?" Anderson asked about the interviews.
"Good," I replied. "And I pretty much ran into half my family up here. That doesn't happen very often."
"Good," he said. He sounded genuinely pleased. "Family is important."
He's a wise man, that Keith Anderson.
So Pete: if I haven't phoned you by the time you read this, don't worry. I'll call you by tomorrow at the latest. Samantha: ditto the Facebook thing. Neal . . . I don't have your number. Call me when you get the chance.
© 2008 The Daily News (Kamloops)
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