More Than Just Nine Friends

Recently, meaning about one or even one and a half months ago, I was sitting in the lounge in our apartment and I made a comment about having only nine friends. I believe that my exact words were something along the lines of how easy my life is here in Taiwan and that I have nine friends and I don't have to worry about making anymore. Well, that was a lie and I should have just kept my mouth shut, but I'm a guy and I make mistakes. I do have more friends than that and today I would like to spotlight one of them, my own cousin Juli Housholder. Well she is really my second cousin but nonetheless she is still one of the coolest people that I know.

We haven't always been friends. If I remember the story correctly we both thought that one another's families were weird and I am sure there was truth to both sides. But then one night Juli's family invited us over for New Year's Eve and we played Monopoly and then found out we weren't quite that different. We got along and even hung out once in a while. During the past few years she has been suffering from cancer but that hasn't stopped her from changing lives. She always has a smile on her face and she never complains, if only I could be as awesome as she is.

I just wanted to say that she's awesome even though it has nothing to do with my adventures in Taiwan. Juli if you ever happen to read this know that you're awesome and a great example. Hopefully we will never have to make another countdown chain for chemo treatments anymore. Hope that you had a great birthday and I'll talk to you in a few months.