It’s a little long; will you bear with me?
Five years ago my uncle Mel (that would be Mom’s brother in law) quit the company he’d been working at for 20 years to start his own business. The guy he started the business with turned out to be an ass, and Mel lost A LOT of money. You know how books say ‘his face turned grey’? Well, it’s true - faces really do turn grey when things go bad.
Four years ago the youngest of Mel’s two kids got married to a flake and essentially cut off ties with his family. Mel got greyer. My Aunt Nancy wasn’t much better. Lots of tears.
Three years ago Mel got a good, high-paying job. They did all the improvements to their house that they had been dreaming of - replaced the living room floor with hardwood; replaced the picture window and door to the deck with a glorious French door with side windows. Replaced the tile with the kitchen.
A year ago Mel and Nancy made an uneasy peace with Greg, the youngest boy - uneasy in that they knew he was lost to them, but resigned, knowing that maybe someday he’d come to his senses.
Six months ago my uncle Mel picked me up from work because my car crapped out and I needed assistance. We checked out my car and decided the battery needed replacing. He drove me five miles west to purchase a battery at Mills Fleet, then he drove me 10 miles east back Aunt Nancy’s place for supper, then he drove me 5 miles west back to my apartment to replace the battery. In the rain. He did it, he said at the time, because ‘family helps each other out when they need it’. The liar - he’d help someone out if he saw a dead car on the side of the road. 
About a month ago I found a bottle of super hot hot sauce and bought it for Mel, as I know he’s into spicy food.
A week ago someone sent me a piece of glurge along the lines of “hug everyone you know because you never know when they’re going to leave you” and I rolled my eyes and deleted it.
Nine hours ago my Uncle Mel was throwing firewood from the wood pile down the chute to the woodstove in his basement.
Eight hours ago I got home from work and walked in the door to a ringing phone; my sister was on the other end telling me to get to the hospital NOW.
Seven hours and thirty minutes ago I was staring at this guy on a gurney who appeared to be sleeping, except for the funny looking tube in his mouth.
Two hours ago Greg was on the phone to the mother he hadn’t spoken to in a year telling her he’ll be here in the morning.
Do me a favor, will ya? You know that cousin or friend or acquaintance or aunt that you’ve been meaning to get a hold of for the past six months? Do it.
My best wishes to you.