Cousin Jamie knew every state capital and the names of every country in the world. He knew why Champagne was called Champagne, and why it was capitalized. At the age of 12, he was a brown belt in jujitsu and could play Bach’s Bouree almost perfectly on the violin. He was first in his class for every subject except Phys Ed and Health, which were stupid, so who cared.  

            Uncle Bora was from Guyana like his Mom and Aunt Eileen, from Canada, was technically an immigrant like his Dad, but their family seemed somehow more American. Braden and Lara had iPods and cell phones; they were allowed to sleep over at friends’ houses and they didn’t have to attend catechism every Wednesday and church every Sunday. Of course, they weren’t as smart as he was.