Cormac | Tim Driskell

My Nephew Cormac

Cormac was my second nephew, born a very long time ago. When I first visited him, probably during my 1987 trip, he was only a few months old. He and his brother Brandon were both preemies and born way too early. Unfortunately, Brandon did not survive.

Cormac spent a long time hooked up to tubes and machines to keep him going. Looking back, it is almost a miracle that medical science had advanced so far and was able to create the kinds of miracles we see today. This tiny little kid fought his way through an incredibly fragile beginning and grew up to become the Cormac we all know and love.

From such a fragile beginning comes one of the most fun, inquisitive and loving guys I have ever known.

Tim with the kids outdoors — Uncle Tim and the kids — outdoors, together, and apparently never far from a little foolishness.

A Super Fun Kid

Of all my nephews, Cormac seems to be just a super fun kid. He is very inquisitive, just a very loving guy, and always so much fun to talk with. He has a curiosity about things and a personality that makes it easy to spend time with him.

These old photos bring all of that back. The funny faces, water guns, boats, dinners, pumpkin painting and kids piled into chairs — none of it was planned as family history. We were just having fun. Now, decades later, it is family history.

Kids with water guns — Armed and dangerous. I am pretty sure the adults had already lost control of the situation.

The cousins together — Five cousins together at Christmas, with Grandpa and Uncle Bob in the background — exactly the kind of chaos and laughter I remember.

Tim and the kids in boats — Family gathered around the table, outside on the deck at Aunt Jodi and Uncle Alan's lakehouse on Bare Hill Pond; awesome childhood days!

Growing Up Together

Cormac spent most of his life in Phoenix, Arizona, which is an incredibly sunny and hot place to grow up. Luckily, he came north to visit us every summer on Bare Hill Pond, and spent a lot of time playing and socializing with his cousins Michelle and Shannon, along with his two brothers, Joseph and Patrick.

I love all these guys so dearly and was so glad that I spent a lot of time in my youth playing with them, having fun, going out in the canoe, and just being a part of their lives and them being a part of my life. And luckily, thanks to my dad, I inherited his love of carrying a camera around, 'just in case'!

The cousins smiling outdoors — Those wonderful cousin years — when getting everyone together out on the lake usually meant instant fun.

Kids eating together — A table full of kids, food and conversation. Uncle Alan always loved to make a big breakfast for everyone! The simple family moments are the ones I remember best.

Kids making funny faces at dinner — Proof that asking this bunch for a normal photograph was usually pointless. Luckily Uncle Tim often had his camera and said 'smile'!

The cousins together around a table — Cormac and the cousins — and everyone trying to get Patrick to smile -- one of many wonderfully goofy gatherings.

Pumpkins, Ponds and Just Being Kids

What I remember most is how much time we simply spent doing things together. There did not have to be a big plan. We could paint pumpkins, sit around a table, play by the pond, paddle in the canoe and kayak, pick blueberries on the islands, hike up to the rocks on the camp road, roast marshmallows by the campfire, or squeeze too many kids into one chair. The fun came from being together.

I have always loved getting kids outside and letting them explore, make a mess and use their imaginations. Looking at these pumpkin photos, I think we definitely succeeded at the “make a mess” part.

The kids painting pumpkins — Pumpkin painting — no rules, plenty of paint, and some truly original artistic decisions.

Painting pumpkins — The artists at work. Cormac appears to be taking his masterpiece seriously.

Family pumpkin painting — One more family project that probably required a hose afterward.

The kids by the lake — Kids, water and a deck overlooking the lake — some of my favorite ingredients for a good day.

Kids roasting marshmallows — Marshmallows around the fire. Concentration was apparently very important.

Three children sharing a chair — Three kids, one chair. Personal space was still an unfamiliar concept.

Cormac relaxing with family — One of those quiet, close family moments that somehow survived the camera.

Finding His Own Place

After growing up in the heat and sunshine of Phoenix, Cormac headed out to the Pacific Northwest once he finished college. I can certainly understand the appeal of trading endless desert sun for forests, cooler weather, mountains and an entirely different part of the country.

He was a home brewer like myself for many years, so we actually had a lot in common. Brewing your own beer is part science, part experimentation, part patience and part curiosity. Maybe it should not surprise me that it appealed to both of us.

Cormac as an adult at a family celebration — Cormac grown up — still smiling, still surrounded by family.

Cormac at a family gathering — Getting everyone out on the water. If Uncle Tim was around, there was always a pretty good chance a canoe and/or kayak would appear.

Cormac smiling at dinner — That same easy smile. Cormac is always a fun guy to talk with. Lots of cousins at Michelle's wedding.

Family

When I look back through these photos, I realize how lucky I was to have so much time with Cormac, Joseph, Patrick, Michelle and Shannon when they were young. Families scatter. Kids grow up. People move across the country and build lives of their own. That is the way life works.

But I still remember the fun kid Cormac was, how inquisitive and loving he always is, and how easy he is to talk with. From that incredibly difficult beginning as a premature baby surrounded by tubes and machines, he grew into someone I have always been very proud to call my nephew.

I love all these guys so dearly. They were part of my life, and I was very lucky to be part of theirs.