Family Business

**Oy! Yes, it's been awhile since the last entry! It's not that I had forgotten about my blog, but rather that I had nothing special to write about. The last few weeks where rather calm... Whatever...**

AHA! Another aspect of our lives that I can dissect! Family!!!

So, what could a guy like me, having such a strange family constellation, say about this subject. My parents have divorced, I don't talk to my father (I'd even kill him if I had the chance to do so, to be honnest), I haven't had any contact with relatives from his side for over... phew... something like 10 or 15 years? Even more? The people on my mother's side are spread all over europe, so I barely have the chance to see them very often. The rest is my mom and my sister. That's all (yes, I'm sort off a single and I don't plan to change that for awhile). So my vision of what a family is, may be a bit strange.

First, I really don't think that blood is what makes a family. That's just some stupid humbug. Love, care and attention on the other hand, being there when someone needs you and having that same person return this when you need it the most... well... that's more what I'd call family. Taking care of those who supported you when you where young, who've spent their very last dime (and more) so you could become what you wanted to be... that's behaving like a family. Yes, I'm talking about parents here... you know, most people I know and who're of my generation have this strange desire, this need to let their parents behind as fast as possible and, best of all, never to have too much contact with them. Where did this sick attitude come from anyhow? That's so egoïstic... and it just makes the wheel of misfortune turn once again, cause you can expect your own children to copy this attitude... the learn from what they see.

I'm quite traditionnal. I consider my family as a blessing, not a curse. Even though it does sometimes get loud and not everyone gets along very well all the time, there's this bond we have, which constantly makes us stick together when one of us is in trouble. One phone call and the machinery is running. It's quite impressive. Think of it like the mafia... we've got rules and traditions... and that generates stability. By the way, this is probably one of the aspects of this organisation I admire most... the way they consider family. It's not just about blood...

Now on the other side, there are other people I consider as being family members. Close and trusty friends for example. Young and old. They play a big part in my life, even though there are some of them I've never seen (you know who you are ;)). We share the same interests, we talk, we laugh and we argue, we listen to each other when one is down or congratulate when another had some success somewhere... that's family too. Not only friendship... it's too deep for that.

Family exists in so many forms, that there shouldn't be an exact definition to stick to it. Family is something personal...