Why my family is incontrovertably more awesome than yours

My sister, Nicci, was recently married to one of the greatest guys I can imagine. This got me thinking about how much my family means to me. My family is awesome. "How awesome?" you might ask. "More awesome than zombie raptor Jesus's flying saucer style of martial arts" I would kindly and quickly reply.

I think most people dislike their parents to some extent. I do not. My parents have been there for me in every disaster I've encountered, and they've helped me through it to boot. I flip my Altima; my dad picks me up on his way to work, buys me a new car and warns me that I only get 1 free screw-up like that. I almost commit suicide, my parents open their arms and their home to me in support, then lovingly make me get back into the real world so not to stunt my growth and over nurture me. These last few months when my finances hit dire straits, my parents bailed me out.

My sister and brother-in-law are two more fine examples of how amazing my family is. They are simultaneously two of the goofiest, coolest, and for lack of less academic word exemplary. I've been following more or less in my sister's footsteps for as long as I can remember. We've been through the same schools (so far), the same gifted education, the same sarcastically loving upbringing. In a way, we're like battle-hardened comrades, only she has 7 years prior experience in life than I do. Despite the "foot-on-chest" incident, I know she's always cared for me and she has helped me become the person I am today.

Eddie, my brother-in-law, is something else. He's personable, intelligent, and generally passionate throughout his daily life. I don't feel I know him well enough to say much more, but in the small amount of time we've spent together he's already become a welcome addition to our family.

These examples befuddle the true nature of our bond, however. My parents are two of my best friends. They're both approachable, and react to me as an adult as I feel they have most of my life. When one of us has a moment of triumph, we can all relish in it; when something depressing happens, we can all laugh about it. We don't talk every day, but we still manage to remain close, to remain a family. In everything I do, I find myself trying to live up to my amazing family, to be more like they are.


My extended family? They're far more eccentric than I can begin to describe, and worthy of at least a post of their own.