Dear Second Family,

First, let me start by apologizing.

I am sorry for being loud at wee-hours of the night and waking you up. I am sorry I made your daughter go into the boonies to meet a boy that turned out to be okay... not great. I am sorry I stole your Grey Goose from the closet, froze the water we filled it up with, and then blamed it on your other daughter (the one who doesn't drink... ever). I am sorry that I eat all your food, make you cook for me, and then raid family dinners at nice restaurants because I am "hangry". I am sorry for never leaving your house, drinking beer around cats, and always laughing... that little laugh. Again, I apologize.

Now, let me thank you.

Thank you for letting me be loud at wee-hours of the night and not coming downstairs and yelling at me. Thank you for allowing your daughter to go into the boonies with me to meet a boy that turned out to be okay... not great and then letting me take her again and again. Thank you for not telling my parents about the Grey Goose... I greatly appreciate that now. Thank you for letting me eat all your food (and filling it up again the next day), cooking for me at least once a week, and letting me come to your family dinners at nice restaurants because I am always "hangry". Thank you for always housing me, letting me drink your beer around your cats (the ones I loathe), and for keeping me laughing always.... my little laugh. Again, thank you.

Finally, let me explain why I had to do both.

Yes, you have your family and by God they're great all the time even when you think they aren't. But it's the second family that says more about the friends you keep and most importantly, you. They allow you to come over no matter what you do because they believe you and they don't have to... you aren't technically related. They're the family that supplies you with food, drinks (even alcoholic ones), and bed because they trust you to have fun with their own kids (even when they really shouldn't but thank you anyways). They're the ones that let you believe you're invincible at 16 and let you have a night long battle with a bottle of Grey Goose (RIP) and laugh (that little laugh) when you can't walk downstairs the next morning.

You second family will believe in you always. It's your best friend's parents, siblings, and extended family. When it goes that deep, you know it's real.

And, to be honest, it is real. The feeling you get when you just walk right in, when you want to lock the door at night because they're worth protecting (or because people occasionally hide in the bushes), when you get in a serious fight with their sister because she punched your figurative sister in the face (so you yell of course), and when you cry because they're leaving you for four years and well, that means 'parents' weekend' doesn't mean you can always tag along.

Your second family is family, too.

So to my second family, thank you for everything you taught me, made me realize, and the little things like always giving me a place to stay.

Thank you.

To all the second families, your grace and hospitality is much appreciated. Thank you for being a family to your kids' friends.

Thanks for taking in one more daughter, even when two was enough. I'll always remember the little things that later turned into big lessons.

P.S. If you're gonna be stupid, you got to be tough.

Trust me, lesson learned.