Lilly Sullivan

Anita was scared because they were in Northern California, and there were serial killers, a few of them, around there in the 70s. Even at 10, Anita knew this. All three women in the car were small, all under five feet. Anita in the front seat, their cousin Cecilia in the back. Again, here's Anita.

Anita was scared because they were in Northern California, and there were serial killers, a few of them, around there in the 70s. Even at 10, Anita knew this. All three women in the car were small, all under five feet. Anita in the front seat, their cousin Cecilia in the back. Again, here's Anita.

Anita remembers sitting stock still, staring straight ahead, afraid to make eye contact as a stranger somehow talked them into letting him into the car.

Anita remembers sitting stock still, staring straight ahead, afraid to make eye contact as a stranger somehow talked them into letting him into the car.

Serial killer looking white guy? Turns out, Fluent in Spanish. The hitchhiker lumbered into the backseat next to Cecilia. Cecilia had only been in the country a few weeks at that point and was like, what on earth? She was 26.

Serial killer looking white guy? Turns out, Fluent in Spanish. The hitchhiker lumbered into the backseat next to Cecilia. Cecilia had only been in the country a few weeks at that point and was like, what on earth? She was 26.

That was the hitchhiker's name. Which I know because... That guy's my dad. Cecilia, that's my mom. And this story, it's the story of how our family came to be. Their legendary first meeting. It's followed by a similarly legendary first date. My mom's sister and cousin dressed her up in their own clothes. White bell bottoms, white platform heels. My dad showed up in a poncho.

That was the hitchhiker's name. Which I know because... That guy's my dad. Cecilia, that's my mom. And this story, it's the story of how our family came to be. Their legendary first meeting. It's followed by a similarly legendary first date. My mom's sister and cousin dressed her up in their own clothes. White bell bottoms, white platform heels. My dad showed up in a poncho.

and he took her hiking in the Redwood Forest, where it rained. He ended up carrying her so that she wouldn't ruin the shoes she'd borrowed. Two weeks later, they eloped, headed off to Reno, but ended up stopping in a random town nearby, where marriage licenses were $5 cheaper. They got married at 7 a.m. on Christmas Eve. Anita remembers them coming home after with their marriage license.

and he took her hiking in the Redwood Forest, where it rained. He ended up carrying her so that she wouldn't ruin the shoes she'd borrowed. Two weeks later, they eloped, headed off to Reno, but ended up stopping in a random town nearby, where marriage licenses were $5 cheaper. They got married at 7 a.m. on Christmas Eve. Anita remembers them coming home after with their marriage license.

That's so cool. It's such a good story. Like I said, legendary. This story is the bedrock foundation of how I see my parents, especially my dad. I picture him at 26, his Miss Button shirt, catching rides through the West Coast alone. This big white guy from Detroit climbing into this car full of immigrants, just exuberant, and thinking, wow, I'm going to marry this lady.

That's so cool. It's such a good story. Like I said, legendary. This story is the bedrock foundation of how I see my parents, especially my dad. I picture him at 26, his Miss Button shirt, catching rides through the West Coast alone. This big white guy from Detroit climbing into this car full of immigrants, just exuberant, and thinking, wow, I'm going to marry this lady.

And I picture my mom at 26, having just arrived in the country, self-contained, determined, seeing this weirdo and deciding... Yes. Him. When you enter the family, this is pretty much the one story we make you memorize. And then you can be a citizen of the family. Here's my brother-in-law, Lars. How many times do you think you've heard this story?

And I picture my mom at 26, having just arrived in the country, self-contained, determined, seeing this weirdo and deciding... Yes. Him. When you enter the family, this is pretty much the one story we make you memorize. And then you can be a citizen of the family. Here's my brother-in-law, Lars. How many times do you think you've heard this story?

And the meaning of this story has always been clear. If they didn't pick him up, we would, all of us wouldn't be here right now. Here I am with my niece and nephews. I wouldn't be here, and you wouldn't be here. Mom wouldn't be here.

And the meaning of this story has always been clear. If they didn't pick him up, we would, all of us wouldn't be here right now. Here I am with my niece and nephews. I wouldn't be here, and you wouldn't be here. Mom wouldn't be here.

There's something predestined about it. This is such an important story, I thought. You know what? I want to visit the spot where the meteor struck. My dad died 10 years ago. I miss him. Always. And he doesn't have a grave. He insisted on cremation by, quote, the cheapest means possible. He didn't like fancy things. And I also think that he didn't want to be a burden.

There's something predestined about it. This is such an important story, I thought. You know what? I want to visit the spot where the meteor struck. My dad died 10 years ago. I miss him. Always. And he doesn't have a grave. He insisted on cremation by, quote, the cheapest means possible. He didn't like fancy things. And I also think that he didn't want to be a burden.

Anyway, when I want to remember him, there's not like a location I can go to. I can't like put flowers by a tombstone. So how about this place? This legendary spot where he climbed into a car and our family began. So, can't be hard. So where was it? Anita says it was by the freeway exit by our house. Manuelita says it was an on-ramp heading downtown. But they're not definitive about it.

Anyway, when I want to remember him, there's not like a location I can go to. I can't like put flowers by a tombstone. So how about this place? This legendary spot where he climbed into a car and our family began. So, can't be hard. So where was it? Anita says it was by the freeway exit by our house. Manuelita says it was an on-ramp heading downtown. But they're not definitive about it.