When I moved to Massachusetts I met my family of ten cousins, aunt, uncle, second and third cousins, plus a few adopted ex-cons and young pregnant girls my aunt saved. Every Christmas they rented a community house to fit the 60+ people and growing. Growing is an understatement as many cousins had lots of kids, and they had lots of kids… we became close over the years. I was welcomed as family with open arms and spent the next couple decades spending quality time with the family I never knew or had. It was wonderful. I became particularly close with a handful of cousins and one was “more like a brother” to me. I often hung out with him, his wife, more cousins, and friends. Over the span of twenty years it felt like family and safe, able to be myself. It was special I felt real and like I found home.