We called him Dad, behind his back. He was, while not officially, he was. Since we aren't an actual family, we belong to each other like we are. Our father, told what to do, reprimanded us when we did what we weren't suppose to. Helped with our homework, and by home work I mean jobs, his encouragement enough to help us with our problem, allowing us to succeed. Even when Dad wasn't sitting in his chair, you knew he would help, if only we asked.
But Who helped Dad?
She was our sister, but not. She didn't look or act like us. More of a sister-in-law we trusted. She loved him and that was more than enough for us. Her wisdom beyond her years. Her words harsh but true. She many not have understood us sometimes, but she tried. Behind her wisdom and facts, she taught us that love is a powerful emotion, and is not one to be trifled with. And she loved him greatly, and because she loved him greatly, she loved us all.
And he loved her as much.
He was the goofy Big Brother. A man, who would do anything for his family. He had a grin that made everything okay. A heart of gold worth more than all the treasures known to man, or his friend. Our Brother, would gladly put his life on the line for his family. Just to ensure that we lived to fight another day. He knew that we would tell our enemy of our love for him, and we would do anything to prove that love, and defend that love. For he would only do the same for us.
A reminder of our family's love.
He was our odd ball. We loved him as much. He'd analyze everything, from those out side the house to the house it self. Aware of all that happened, a solider who's mission was his family and their house. But deep down, he was our brother. We loved him and his tactics, he protected us with the sword and defended us from harm we faced. While he seemed cold, we knew he loved us, and his pineapple.
Our great defender.
A young face, full of innocence, a heart of an explorer. While he grew up between the stars he belong to our family as much as the next. Our baby brother, Dad trusted him to get us between the stars he grew up with, and Big Brother knew he wouldn't crash us on the way. Our Solider knew that he would work in tandem with him to defend the ship, our home. He reminded us of another love, a love of the unknown.
Our guide to the stars.
Our baby sister. She could sweet talk even the formidable of threats from doing any harm. She would help Dad to understand what to say, how to say it, when to say it. The understanding she held for those beyond our home, from those a light-year away to those a thousand away. She would understand them, and allow us to learn to love diversity, in its infinite combinations. And would even translate the way our Big Brother loved our Sister-in-law. She would translate our family's love, in to words. Love can touch us, but also needs to tell us.
She said it best.
Then there was our Crazy Uncle, not so crazy as enthusiastic. He would fix our wounds, from broken hearts to the cuts and scraps. Unafraid to help those in need. Be they a member of the family, a child or a man, or our attackers, and our friends. His family a ways away, he loved us like one of his own. His lesson, was to love unconditionally.
We loved our Crazy Uncle.
We love our family, those we have here, and those we have lost. Young and old, Dad to Baby Sister. Because our family was stronger than the worst of them. And even if we lose each other to new positions, the pains of death, broken hearts and the space between the stars. We are a family.
And Family never dies.
