We didn’t really know what to expect when Kim’s cousin, Marissa arrived on the ferry the other evening. We’d never met her, nor had we heard much about her. All we really knew about her is that she’s in her early 20s. She has turned out to be a kindred spirit in many ways. Marissa has a sister Aly’s age, so the two have them have hit it off well. She also likes to read, likes Harry Potter, drinks coffee and has an outlook on life very similar to ours. Although she hadn’t been prepared for the homestead—the mile and a quarter hike in, crossing the creek, off-the-grid power and all, she’s no stranger to roughing it. She’s been on several archaeological digs in Bolivia, living in primitive conditions. They didn’t even have outhouses! Her degree is in Social Anthropology, so she and Aly have been talking a lot about digs. Aly’s getting even more excited about her upcoming ASRA field work. She also shares Aly’s enthusiasm for beading.
For being a complete stranger when she arrived, she’s made herself part of the family. She’s been ready to pitch in on anything that needs to be done. The conversation is interesting and pleasant, the silences companionable. She can stay! We just need to take her to town to find her some better footwear.