In his book "Naked," David Sedaris recounts his family's annual road trip from North Carolina to western New York to visit relatives. This journey included spending ten days with his mother's family in Binghamton, followed by visits to his paternal grandmother, affectionately referred to as Ya Ya, in Cortland. These visits were an integral part of his childhood, reflecting the connections and traditions that shaped his upbringing.

Ya Ya ran a newsstand and candy store, which was a narrow space filled with magazine racks and chairs for patrons getting shoeshines. She lived above the store in the same apartment his father had occupied as a child. This setting highlights the blend of familial love and community ties that were central to Sedaris's experiences during those formative years.