Today
Facebook is covered in status of people being grateful for their families. My
grandfather died two days ago and I can’t help but think about my family and
what family means to me.
Family
(dictionary.com): a basic social unit consisting of parents and their children,
considered as a group, whether dwelling together or not:
the traditional family.
b.
a social unit consisting of one or more adults together with
the children they care for: a single-parent family.
2.
the children of one person or one couple collectively: We want a
large family.
3.
the spouse and children of one person: We're taking the family on
vacation next week.
4.
any group of persons closely related by blood, as parents,
children, uncles, aunts, and cousins: to marry into a socially
prominent family.
5.
all those persons considered as descendants of a common
progenitor.
The thing is
none of these definitions work for me. Three years ago, two days after
Thanksgiving my dad and my step-mom kicked me out of my family because of my
sexuality. The rest of my family followed their lead and I have spent the past
two years creating a new family.
My definition of
family is a little different than the one put forth by dictionary.com
Family: A group
of people closely related by love
This year I am
thankful for the people who have come into my life and for all of the
experiences I have had both the good and the bad. This year I am thankful for nonconventional
families.
This year I am thankful for my nontraditional family. Geoff, Sara, Doug, Maria, Dale, and LouLou thanks for accepting me
unconditionally and for being the best family I could possibly ask for.
