new family

My dad's cousin has a farm north of Cobourg and I ventured up to stay a night with them.  I pulled up to the farmhouse in the dark and was ushered into the giant, century-old kitchen. We ate and drank and talked for hours as cats rubbed my ankles and the dog begged for scraps.

I slept for almost 11 hours in a small attic room, wrapped tightly under a thick down comforter.  I woke up to see snow falling lightly onto the tree outside my window.  It was magic.

I was made pancakes and bacon and then curled up by the fire to read for hours, nestled into the old leather couch, a purring cat curled on my stomach.

It was needed, the sleep and company, cats and books, roaring fires and hot tea.  We were family that had never met but the bond was there nonetheless.

I think that's the best kind of family there is.