For the Blue Spot In a Red State; Austin, Texas: “Me, Myself, and Vinny”

My cousin Vinny. There are SO many things I could say about him but I will start with logistics. Vinny lives in Austin, Texas. That is what got me there in the first place.

Vinny and I are technically third cousins (he will debate me on this fact still to this day) but in our large, loud Italian family that means we are practically brother and sister. He grew up in nearby New Jersey and is only three months younger than I.

We have done the bonding that you do as you grow up, sharing all of the highs and lows of life as part of having a large, loud, Italian family.

But what it boils down to is this: LOVE. Pure, unconditional, and sometimes inappropriate love. I did mention he is from New Jersey, right?

Vinny is an odd duck for sure but he is my odd duck and in many ways my spirit animal. What he lacks in stature he makes up for with his GIANTIC heart…….that’s right Vinny I am saying heart and nothing else you nutcase.

It has been two months since I visited Austin and it took me about that long to recover. Recover from Vinny or Austin you ask? Truthfully I am not sure. Honestly, probably a bit of both. But I am now ready to share all. At least what’s legal.

To be honest I never imagined I would end up writing so much about my cousin despite his many beliefs to the contrary. However once I started typing this is what came out, so I can't fight it and as I did I wore a huge smile on my face as I typed every word.

Plus if you will pardon the expression; I couldn't resist making him “shit his good underwear”.

For more actual information about Austin and my time there see the posts that follow.

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