family...?

If you would have asked me a few years ago, I would have told you that my family was my most prized "possession." If I were to answer the same question today, I would have to admit I am indifferent on the whole idea. I am not a hateful, terrible person. I'd like to think I am one of the most positive, happy people I know of. But honestly, family means less and less every day. Before you know it, family will be taken as lightly in society as say, marriage.
My family used to be great, we were as close to each other as most people are to their best friends. From ridiculously entertaining games on holidays to just sitting around laughing like every word spoken was the funniest we had ever heard. I could go on in detail about just how amazing we were, but it doesn't matter at this point and I'll save the finger energy. Our family now...not so great.
One of my aunts merely acknowledges me in public, the other makes awkward small talk. It's sad, but I have always had an above average skill for letting things roll off my back, so I live. In a nutshell, my mom doesn't make the best life choices, I believe even she would admit that. Her sisters care too much what people think, I'm sure even they would admit that. Many of her bad choices were effecting the family. Some members more than others. Her sisters naturally got fed up with this plus the bad press I'm guessing, and distanced themselves. I'm not sure what happened between then and now but, they if I had to guess I'd say they don't even claim her as their sister. My point of this post isn't to air my family's dirty laundry, but to explain that I don't understand how families mean nothing anymore.
It makes me sad that I'm no longer sad about not having a "family."It causes no more sweat off my back than a pet goldfish dying; it was there..now it isn't. Oh well, flush it. On the other hand, I don't believe sisters/brothers are considered family. They are considered soul mates. What confuses me most about this whole situation is how three sisters can live together for 40+ years then decide "eh, this isn't working for me." The nieces have only been around for a little more or less than a decade, so I suppose they are easier to live apart from.
My sister is my best friend as many of you know, I no longer see her every single day seeing as we both work daily and live in separate houses. But, she is still the person I'm closest to in this world. I can say without hesitation that it will stay this way throughout our entire lives.

No matter what.

Wedding vows usually contain something along the lines of: "In sickness and in health, for richer or poorer, for better or worse." I believe family should have this vow embedded in them from birth. But sadly, like most others who take this vow, it means nothing.

I don't care if Alix went on a murdering spree, became a notorious bank robber, or started smuggling cocaine; she is my sister. I would never let anything change that, or our relationship. You can't uninstall built in best friends.