The California Dream

“You can pick your friends but you can’t pick your relatives.” This was something that my grandfather, ED (one of my favourite people in the world), would occasionally say. I always found this ironic because he was someone I would choose to be my family, ten times over. It’s

also ironic because he’s the reason that I have a whole lot of family that I would choose to be mine. And finally, in a way, he’s the reason we found a whole lot more family that we would have chosen to be ours. Or should I say they found us…

Ok, that was very vague. I’ll try to explain myself a little better, but there will be a lot of names thrown around...the eldest sister of ED’s family (Noeleen) met and married an American soldier during World War II, and subsequently moved to the States to start a life there together. Occasionally we wondered what became of her, particularly at our family reunion, but we could only ever really imagine. After ED passed away in 2008, his wife and my grandmother, Maude, received a letter in the post (I know, isn’t it amazing that letters are still sent sometimes?!) from two ladies who had seen one of ED’s obituaries online and believed they could be related to us, by connecting his story to those that they had been told by their mother. We sent a response back, essentially saying “we think you’ve found your family”, and just like that a rather large missing piece of the Wallis family puzzle had been found.

It turns out that Noeleen had had five children: John, David, Chuck, Noeleen and Robin. It was Noeleen and Robin who had sent us the letter, and by December 2009 they were in New Zealand connecting with their mother’s family, and their heritage. There was no denying the family resemblance, and from then on I think I can speak for everyone when I say that we all wanted to be able to visit them on their side of the world.

Fast-forward six years, and there I was, on a flight to California on my way to see Noeleen and Robin and finally get to know their side of the family.

Essentially I had seven days there, and while it was definitely not long enough, it was seven days more than I’d ever had, so it was something to treasure, rather than dwell on.

I was collected from the airport by Robin and her husband Calvin (wearing their All Blacks hats) and brought back to their home in Santa Cruz to meet their sons Danny and Vin. The next morning, after having breakfast on the beach, Robin, Danny, David and I drove four hours up to Redding, where Noeleen and her husband Bill live. Driving along, having gone from the beach to the mountains through a lot of agricultural land in one day, I was excited by the similarities that California has to New Zealand. Seriously, there is so much more to this state than just Hollywood.

With just three days in Redding, I got to go to the beautiful Burney Falls, go sledding down Mount Shasta with Danny, visit the Shasta State Historical Park, Whiskeytown Lake, and the Sundial Bridge as well as have great food, great coffee, all while getting to know yet more of my family. A highlight of my time in Redding was definitely sitting down with Robin and Noeleen and looking through photos of their mum and childhood, and learning about their story and what it was like to grow up in the States. Yet again, the family resemblances were undeniable.

Before I knew it, we were on our way back to Santa Cruz, and when we got back I walked into my room to discover a helium balloon in the shape of a horse with my name on it. Vin and Calvin had got it for me, and I’m pretty sure they have no idea how much I loved it.

Anyway, the next few days were just as busy. We spent New Years Eve (day) seeing the coastline around Santa Cruz: Pleasure Point, Seacliff (which included dolphins) and the Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park (with guest appearances by a banana slug and a family of deer). To celebrate New Years Eve, Danny and Vin took me to a gig by a band called Beats Antique, who I’d never heard of but it was definitely a NYE to remember!

We started the New Year by having a Mexican breakfast by the sea, and then driving along the beautiful California coastline all the way to Big Sur. As someone who loves to be by the ocean, it was the perfect way to begin 2016, and I’m pretty sure the entire drive consisted of my eyes glued to the water and me saying, “wow”, “that’s amazing” and “it’s so beautiful”. To top the day off, there was also a pod of wales swimming around the coastline, which was especially cool, as I’d never seen a whale in real life.

Now you’re probably thinking that the start of my year can’t get any better, but you’re actually mistaken. The second day of the year was amazing…Danny, Vin and their friend Don took me to the Santa Cruz boardwalk, which I think is just the best idea ever. A theme park by the sea. And you can buy beer there. I was in my element. But, to top it all off, Robin and Calvin had organised for me to have a Mexican Fiesta that afternoon, so I could meet yet more of my family. Meeting new people is something I genuinely love, so you can imagine how excited I was at the chance to get to know more members of my family.

The next day, unfortunately, was my final day in California. So Robin, Calvin, Danny and Vin took me to San Francisco for the day, to see what it had to offer. I got to see and walk across the Golden Gate Bridge, where you have a great view of the infamous Alcatraz (and as a Kiwi I was reminded of the horror that was the 2013 America’s Cup). They took me down Lombard Street, the world’s windiest street (as in lots of corners, not wind), and to the cable car museum, which I was really tickled by – just four cables is all it takes for the city’s cable car transportation! Then we spent the rest of the day at the pier, playing old arcade games and exploring SS Jeremiah O’Brien, a World War II liberty ship. That brought my time in California to an end, and after a quick dinner, it was time to make the undesired trip to the airport.

I had an absolute blast in California, and I got to see so many more things than I ever imagined, thanks to Noeleen, Robin and their families. I have made priceless memories that I will have with me forever, and most importantly I got to spend time with, and get to know my exceptional family. There were so many resemblances to the Wallis family, in looks, personality and sense of humour. I was totally and utterly spoilt the entire time I was there, but most importantly I felt so much love, and I really hope that they felt the same from me.

This world works in mysterious and wonderful ways, and when it gives you gifts like this, you can’t help but feel a little bit special.

“Happiness is having a large, loving, caring, close-knit family in another city.” – George Burns

That’s all for now,

Jordyn x