My cousin Danny...

Long ago and far away... My childhood was peculiar in one thing, not having a cousin close by... I was hearing of my cousin Danny, I could see him in photographs, even listening to his voice through cassette recordings but I could never imagine how it would feel that this person would be so loveable. In my home town, Punta Chica(circa 1972) we met have shared many happy days, those were times to enjoy, to play, to learn. Danny was always the 'hot' one, his physical power and his abilities. He was also very likeable, always ready for the jokes to make people laugh. Something here made him come back a few years later, it was the 1978 Soccer World Cup taken place in Buenos Aires. Then we were adolescents, with different interests in other things ... and people. We shared several outings. a soccer game at the River Plate "Monumental" Stadium, several night escapades where , by the way, he showed us his total devotion for "Saturday Night Fever" Later, in '89 , with Grandma Laura's help, I took a trip to the USA. There I had the experience of life close to my uncles and cousins, mixing up with their lives and experiences. Danny again was there for me to make my stay better, he gave me a few lessons in tennis. His vocation for the sport was always evident and only second to his generosity . Then, in '89, after starting our own families I took another trip to the US, this time for business reasons and accompanied by my wife Diana and 3 year old daughter Barbara. This time was in Miami Shores, Florida where Kathy was in the last stages of pregnancy with Gabriela. She was so sweet in receiving us and made us feel at home. That was the time when I realized we were connected beyond our mere blood ties. Dan then, revealed a special happiness, because of the incoming birth of her first daughter. We spent a short but enjoyable time together and also had the chance to meet their great friend Ed J. Olmos. I had returned to their place sometime later by myself, and again Dan made me feel that I wasn't alone. He made room for me in their living room where I spent a few days, I went with him to Boca Raton where he was to compete in a Triathlon. I always was impressed by his willpower as in this case to reach a goal only very few dared to reach... Later in life came some difficult years when I would've liked to travel but could not afford it. Time went by and our lives were tying us with our own responsibilities and different agendas and away from our affections... Now, far away, after so many years and even if they were just a short part of my life, my best memories are of him, they were engraved in my mind and I'll treasure them forever because to a certain extent they made me the person I am today... Now, I am left with these images, those moments, with that Danny, forever... ...and all that energy that you employed to achieve your dreams, dear cousin, were not in vain, because they inspired all of us...
Your cousin Andy Michalla