She's My Cherry Bomb

My cousin, one of the best people I know, needs some cheering up.

I've thought about the best way to do this for awhile and Elizabeth Dittygave me the idea of writing down my wondrous thoughts and memories of Nikki so that she can read, remember and hopefully smile. Nikki's going through some major hardships right now and I'll admit that it's hard to know how to react or what to say. But, I've always loved Nikki from the bottom of my heart and although it is sometimes it's easier to turn away or pretend that the insidious 'C' word doesn't exist in my bright and shining cousin the best thing I can do for her right now is to use the few gifts I have to lift her spirits.

Nikki and I were the founding members of the 4-cherry bombs. I was 10, she 11 and I believe Evie and Allyson were also 10. Yes, there were four of us. We were so clever. We were also at Space Camp. Yes, it was awesome.

The first cousins (on my mom's side of the family) went to Space Camp together. In order of age we had Tricia, Kellee, Nikki, Sean and me. Tricia and Kellee were far too old at the wise ages of 14 and 12 (thereabouts) to hang out with lowly 10 and 11 year olds and so were in a different program than Nikki, Sean and I.

During our week long adventure at Space Camp, Nikki and I practically ran the place. Or so we like to believe. We recruited the other two girls in our group to make a club, still fondly known as the 4-cherry bombs. We would later write each other countless letters on Lisa Frank stationary drawing bunches of cherries all over the paper. We were that cool. The four of us fell in, and out, of love with our pre-adolescent male counterparts. I'm pretty sure none of them ever got over us and our awesomeness.

I still remember very clearly the scavenger hunt that we, the four cherry bombs won. Although, I'm sure Sean would dispute who won. I remember our mission to Mars and the flag hanging debacle (there were no hooks thank you very much!) I also remember bonding with Sean after I threw up on the centrifuge thing. Yeah, I was that girl. I remember our bunk and how I grabbed the last top bunk available and almost immediately regretted it. Spiders. Ick.

When not lording our awesomeness as the best four girls to ever walk the halls of fake mission control, Nikki and I spent our time with her brother Sean tormenting our older sisters. Every time we saw them in the cafeteria or in any other public place we would run up to them and give them the biggest hugs we could. It annoyed them greatly, but then again, that was kind of the point. Sean and I also became pretty obsessed with air-heads there. I think I made myself sick eating air-heads and freeze-dried ice cream.

We've always been close, especially the three of us. The thing is, I love my family and I have a special fondness for Nikki because she's my cherry bomb. She's my Kiki. So many times I would lay on the floor of her bedroom giggling with her at the JTT posters that plastered her walls telling her about my latest crush. I've never known someone to weather storms with the grace and dignity that she does. She's lost two fathers, grandparents and now she's fighting for her own life.

So yeah, it's hard to know what to say and how to react. I wish I could just go to her house, play bumper pool with her and Sean (and inevitably lose) and then lay on her floor and whisper and giggle until morning. In my heart, I know that everything will be fine. Better than fine even, everything will be great, no matter what happens. I believe that there's still plenty of hope and life and love for my dearest cousin and her fight is far from over. She just needs a little boost. If I could find some freeze dried ice cream and Lisa Frank stationary, I'd totally send it to her, but for now this will have to do.

I love you Kiki, no matter what happens, you'll always be my favorite cherry bomb.