Bonding with Blood - When Family Become Friends

Build relationships with those who share your blood; Family lasts a lifetime

We’re all familiar with the expression “friends who become family”. My girls back home in Niagara and I have become sisters over a decade of friendship, stories and memories. We are “Aunties” to Rih’s three kids as we’ve been a part of their lives since they were born.

Having lived across the ocean from my extended family since I was seven-years-old, I didn’t have the chance to spend a lot of time with my cousins growing up. Family parties and get togethers are still pretty foreign to me and seeing them on occasion as children was always a planned thing with our parents, not giving me a chance to get to know them.

What I experienced last time with both my cousin, Ian, on my Mum’s side, and my 2nd cousins Lucy, Elle and Tom, on my Dad’s side was how much I had in common with them, and how they’re people I’d choose to be friends with even if there weren’t common blood.

Ian and I age 33 and 25 still playing on the jungle gym

Ian and I travelled down to Cornwall together a few years ago when I came to the UK. We chatted and joked the whole way and had a riot keeping each other company at family events as we shared a similar sense of innocent mischief.

During my time in Hatfield, I went out with Lucy, her boyfriend Ben, and Tom and Elle and their friends.

This visit we came as a family to see Lucy and Ben get married. Well THAT was an occasion. In summation, Tom made a speech for his sister: a perfect combination of touching stories with humour. You could hear me killing myself laughing at his speech during one part where he said that Lucy dressed him up in high boots and a ridiculous outfit and introduced him to the neighbours, and “It was only a couple of years ago.” -DEAD. That was the cherry on top of a very well crafted speech. Bravo Tom!

As you may know if you’ve been following along, I spent the first part of summer in Barcelona with my cousin, John (who is Lucy, Tom and Elle’s uncle). I hadn’t seen John since I was three, as he’s lived in a few places around the world too. Not knowing quite what to expect, I quickly saw the family resemblance in John, and he mentioned that like our family we “lack a filter”.

He was really welcoming from the start and over five days, I hope he’d agree we became pretty close; although knowing John he’ll probably make some smart-arse comment, but deep down I know he’s flattered 😉

Money can’t buy the feeling of friendships formed between family members; but unfortunately, we aren’t all fortunate enough to build the strong relationships with parents, siblings, and extended family we desire… so consider it a blessing.