OK, what does the word "family" really mean? http://www.dictionary.com/ has 20 different defintions for this one 6-letter word. I'd like to first focus on their 4th definition. Family: any group of persons closely related by blood, as parents, children, uncles, aunts, and cousins. According to this definition my family consists of my mother, 2 uncles, an aunt, 3 cousins, and me. Very small. Could be close knit and easy to keep track of. However, I talk to my mother and 1 uncle on a regular basis. The rest I have rarely seen in my life. They weren't at any major event (i.e. high school or college graduation) in my life and I haven't been to any of theirs. This has nevered bothered me, I just assume this is how my family works. Over the past few years I have become more aware of the fact that I am an outsider to my "family" due to location and loose ties.
The second definition of family that I'd like to focus on is: a group of people who are generally not blood relations but who share common attitudes, interests, or goals and, frequently, live together. Though the people I consider to be family do not live together, we are true to the rest of the definition. So, do I have 2 families or do I have the privilege to pick those I consider to be "family"?
I ask this question because my cousin, KC (pictured to the right) was in a serious auto accident that has him in the hospital in a medically induced coma. There is no certain prognosis but everyone will remain hopeful. I have not seen KC in 2 years. I know little about his day-to-day life and interests. I don't know any of his friends and haven't spoken to "the family" since the accident. I don't feel guilty about our lack of relationship but I do care about both him and "the family". My plan is to see him on Friday. I feel that I should see him again in case I don't get another chance. It's weird though. To walk into this group of people, family, barely knowing them and assuming I belong there.
Life has funny ways of bringing people together.
