What is Family?

With the advent of certain family members getting annoying again, I have once again been thinking about what real family is. I have to be honest, I consider more of my friends as family, and would be more likely to pull out all the stops to help them in a crisis than much of the blood relation (and unfortunately married) I have. I find that unfortunate, too. My siblings I get along with fine (for the most part), and I don't have any issue with the way they live their life and relate to me and my family. Some of my "married" family, though, are a different story. I am not someone who enjoys being angry and holding grudges. I believe in forgiveness. I do not believe in stupidity, though. I think that letting my family be exposed to the kind of people certain relatives are is just stupid. The way my dad kept us from certain relatives of his makes so much sense now, though as a kid I didn't fully understand. And, unfortunately, it was over much of the same nonsense-namely money. I believe more in a system of barter and forgiveness, others believe that whatever gets you the most money fastest is the best approach. I just get so frustrated with the fact that every few weeks some pitiful thing pops up that one person in particular decides to make a mountain out of and start the same issues up again. I try to take the high road and avoid the situation, but then they find it necessary to bring in unaffiliated parties, twist stories and leave me on the defense again, instead of just ignoring what should be ignored. Hmmm.
Family is such a fickle thing. I would do anything for those I love.