#7 Meeting New Relatives

As you know, I moved to Boston not knowing anyone at all, including my recently discovered 3rd cousin Wallace Hayes. My grandfather calls him Wally, as does everyone close to him. Wally, I discovered, has the same grandparents as my mother's father. I know, confusing. But there shouldn't be a lick of worry, because I've got it all straight inside my head. Not even Wally himself understands, but I'll let it go since he's in his 70's.

Anyway, Wally and his sweet southern belle Sandy, agreed to take me under their wings and stay in their custard-colored Massachusetts home in Andover just until I grounded myself and found an apartment and job.

You know when you go to family reunions and every person above the age of 40 comes up to you and says, "Oh wow! You have gotten so big! I remember when you were just this small..." (as they imitate placing their hands on a mini coffee table and wiggling it to and fro) Well, this was absolutely nothing like that.

Imagine driving 3000 miles across the country, pulling up a long cobblestone driveway and rounding out in front of a little cottage-like home with everything you could stuff and therefore own, in a tiny Volkswagen Jetta and walking up the steps to say, "Hi, I'm related to you. Can I come in and stay awhile?"

Fortunately, Sandy opened the door with a friendly face and a welcoming air around her. "Come in, come in!" In an unforgettable southern accent, which is just unheard of around Boston! "Just pull your car up to the back driveway, and you can unload your things there...here's a key, here's a room all made up for you and if you need anything, just holler." I was put in the "west wing" of the house, which is a lot bigger than what this picture shows. I'll just tell you it had been three weeks living there that I found out there was a sauna in the basement. Yes, a sauna.

Although I'll admit that I was terrified about moving in with relative strangers...(Haha, get it? Relative? Sorry, cheesy I know...) I was pleasantly surprised with their hospitality and graciousness. I was fed extremely well by Sandy's unforgettable cooking and although Wally was a bit intimidating at first, you could see the Auburn grad/Harvard professor/toxicologist extraordinaire opening up towards the end of my stay. He was gone most of the time doing work in Germany, but he really is such a sweet man and invited me back anytime, day or night.

I find comfort in having relatives out this far away from home. And, I think my family back in Utah does as well. That stepping stone was imperative in my cross-country journey, and I couldn't be more grateful. I still go out to Andover about once a month to accompany Sandy and Wally to church and get a large portion of southern home cooking and leftovers for the rest of the week. It just reminds me that you can find "home" anywhere, as long as you're willing to keep your eyes open, and keep driving up that long cobblestone driveway...