What is family?

Right now I am seriously bogged down with schoolwork and the like. I've wanted to post all weekend, but am just now getting around to it.

My family was here this weekend, a large number of relatives even. About 15 people came in from NY, PA, MD, and VA to visit Ryan and I in Ohio.

So I've been contemplating "What is family?"
These people who came to visit aren't immediate family, I'm not even positive how we are related. Some of them are children of cousins of my grandmother. Regardless we are close and I love them. We make it a point to get together once a year. After these get togethers which always consists of lots of eating, talking, laughing, and loving I get a little depressed. They are such a wonderful group of people and we only see each other once a year.

I'm just a little beside myself right now. Must get back to work.
Peace.