What do you call it when seven cars, 14 people, a house and Cape Cod collide? I’ll give you a hint: My family, on vacation.
My family is probably the furthest thing from average, and rightfully so. We are definitely not perfect in any way, shape or form, simply because all of us have our own flaws and weaknesses that we have to accept. But despite that, I honestly believe that I have the best family in the entire world. I’m a firm believer that perfection is overrated, but even I have to admit that, as a cohesive unit, the Martino clan is pretty close. Never in my entire life have I laughed as hard, smiled as wide, or loved as much. This family, these 14-plus people I share my world with each summer, have made me into the person I am today.
Looking back at pictures from years ago, it’s like I can see the bond that each of us share. There are physical aspects that are so closely related that anyone off the street could tell that a familial relationship stands. But should I define my family only by standards of appearance? As much as I resemble my family, I know that being the youngest gives me an advantage. I can see myself in my family around me, just as I see myself in some of my closest friends. That realization told me that there is more to family than just looking similar.
I’d hate to see what we would become if each person was a mirror image of the one before them. We’d all be exactly the same! The small insecurities that we each possess as ourselves make our strengths even greater and allow for adventures to come from whatever happens. My nerdiness and love for reading puts me at an advantage because I’ve learned to read others so well that I can tell when people bluff in poker. My aunt wants everyone to interact so we always manage to challenge each other in the best kind of competition. One of my uncles loves to cook and makes a family dinner each week that we go on vacation. Another aunt has the most contagious laugh and tells the funniest stories. The list goes on. I feed off of every member of my family as they feed off of me. So much so, that more than simply DNA resembles the Martino in me.
My father along with his seven brothers and sisters keeps the family close. I get my sense of humor from my father and my love of reading from watching my mother. I am a spitting image of my grandmother, I play cards as well as my aunt, and I crack one-liners like my cousin. I work easily with children because of my younger cousins and I’m always up for an adventure or a laugh. Despite my similarities to everyone else, I am still me. Though my family has taught me the true meaning of loving life and caring for those around me, I still stand apart as but one of many moving parts. I am who I am due to the idols I find surrounding me, helping me up when I am down, and ensuring me of my strength when I am weak.
For the past nine years, one week has managed to bring the great majority of my extended family together under one roof. From the beginning, I knew the tradition was going to make memories from every single moment. Even if we happened to get on the wrong ferry, I knew we would still make it to the Vineyard, although I never knew that a seagull would steal a cracker from my aunt along the way. Living in the moment with the people you love the most has been one of the best experiences of my entire life.
Every minute we spend together can be defined by the vacation and celebrations that we share. My life is stitched together by moments: Good, bad, and unpredictable, but the result is always the same. The most important moments stand out as those I spend with my family. My family is much more than the 14 people I spend a week living with; it is more than those who are available during that time frame. Wherever my family is -- whether in LA, MA, or NH -- is where my heart resides. We are born and bonded by blood, but the bond goes much deeper than that.
