Family. Familia. Famiglia. Famille. Ohana. Famillien. Mishpachen. Rosina. Obitelj.
Many ways to say it. Yet what is "family"? Miriam-Webster dictionary simply defines it as "a group of people related to each other. A person's children. A group of related people including people who lived in the past." http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/family.
However, it's not that simple, and Websters agrees with me since its full definition is much longer.
Family is your spouse/significant other and/or your children (by birth or choice). It's your parents, siblings, aunts, uncles, cousins past & present. Traditionally it's related by blood or adoption. Drive by almost any park during the summer and you're bound to see at least one family reunion if not more. Some of those taking up a whole park. Laughing, sharing memories, making new ones, maybe meeting family members for the first time.
I grew up in a large family with my parents, many siblings. While living at home we shared everything: rooms, secrets, chores, fights, sometimes clothes, the occasional cigarillo, the frequent beer, advice, many tears, more food & celebrations. We were our worst enemies but our fiercest defenders.
The family also includes various nieces & nephews, aunts, uncles, too many cousins to count. Our family reunions are never quiet events that fit nicely into one room. Many people, all mostly talking, laughing, eating & getting to know one another and learning about our relatives no longer with us.
When I got married my husband & I formed our own little family which consists of his son & my daughter. Yet along with our small central family we each inherited the other's families. More parents, siblings, nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles, cousins. I got 3 more brothers & their wives and kids. My husband gained a family with sister, something he'd never had before. Some day our children will add even more members to it we hope.
Family may also be a "chosen family". My daughter calls them a "framily". I feel so blessed to have that in my life. Several of my girlfriends & I consider each other sisters. We laugh together & have cried with each other. We take fun- filled road trips with & without our husbands. Our family also includes co-workers, past & present such as one who is almost a younger brother at times and the one whose death affected me as hard as losing my sister.
Last Thanksgiving found two other couples, along with my husband, daughter & I around our table sharing the holiday together - like a true family. Two of us, Heather & I, lost our fathers within a couple years of each other so we share that bond. Another has had some health problems & if I don't hear from her I worry. Those sisters threw me a fabulous 50th birthday lunch recently & in a couple weeks we'll be throwing a big party to celebrate several of us hitting that milestone. Heather's husband, Bruno, and I are like true siblings: we think alike sometimes, to the point that I call him my "brother from another mother" which we get a kick out of it. Our children become each other's nieces & nephews; my husband & I are "Auntie Lisa" & "Uncle Dale" to several.
We've had several events, such as my daughter's graduation party, during which all our families - blood & chosen- got to come together. I remember looking around at everyone sitting together, having a great time, my older sister's daughter holding the youngest daughter of one of my framily. Another friend greeting my parents "Hi Mom, Dad." My husband's brother & my oldest sister helping to serve the food. I'd mentioned to my husband that it was hard to tell who was family & who were friends. He responded "I think that's the point isn't it?" I guess it is.
I think this song reflects me & my sisters - blood & chosen. Can only chuckle & wonder which of us would be cast as which character in the show. Any ideas?
So, tell me: what kind of family do you have? Traditional? Non traditional? Do you have your own "family"? I'd love to know.
