A Welcome Reprieve

For two hours we wound our little Toyota east through the hills of Northern California and the tiny one lane towns that sprung up by the side of the road like wildflowers until we got to our final destination— Redding, California. Besides being the biggest thing going north of Sacramento, Redding is the epicenter of the Jindra family tree. Sebastian’s mother is one of the only Jindra’s who’ve settled on the opposite coast and for years now I’ve been hearing stories about all the aunts, uncles, and cousins who live out in Redding. Every morning we woke up stiff with cold and ate spoonful’s of peanut butter for breakfast Sebastian would count down the days until we arrived in Redding. Sometimes he’d just look off into the distance and simply sigh, “grandma.”

We arrived in Redding with our tent covered in mold, our clothes smelling like hell, and a car that reeked like the tahini sauce that Seb had spilled two weeks prior. I don’t think I’ve ever been so happy to step foot inside a house and I don’t think I’ve ever met a more warm and welcoming group people. Sebastian’s aunt Nancy and uncle Steve took us into their home with so much warmth I truly felt that I was part of the family. They cooked us dinner, fed us wine, washed our clothes, and cleaned out our tent. While we were napping one day Seb’s uncle Steve washed, waxed, and buffed our car into such perfection it didn’t even look like the same vehicle. They were funny, friendly, and wonderful in every sense of the word, and the rest of Sebastian’s family was no different. Everyone I met was so genuinely happy to have us, to help us along our journey. Sebastian’s uncle Rick took our car into his shop for a full inspection, his cousin Michelle gave him a much needed haircut, and everyone everywhere sent us off with bellies full of delicious food.

When we weren’t being treated like kings at his aunt and uncle’s house, Sebastian and I hung out with his beloved grandma. She was just like Sebastian had made her out to be—
funny, inquisitive, and unbelievably sweet. She’s the kind of person you just want to hug every time you see her. We slept over one night, despite the fear of the dreaded bed bugs, and the three of us drank wine and watched a movie until late into the night. After a while I found myself calling her “grandma” too because I just couldn’t help but love and cherish her. A week flew by and suddenly Sebastian and I were on the road again. His aunt and uncle sent us off with a ridiculously generous assortment of goods and, although we had already begun to count down the days till we’d be back for Thanksgiving, we felt like a million dollars.