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One Great, Big, Happy Family...of Weirdos.

By: Colleen | November 13, 2007 | Category: Home and Family

"You are all weirdos." These are astute words from Sam the Eagle, with which I must agree.

People's quirkiness is often what I like best about them. It creates character, and is never boring. Some of my favorite examples:

My best friend can't come within ten feet of styrofoam, or eat pointed ends of french fries. (The fries, he believes could potentially poke him in the stomach. The styrofoam fear is inexplicable and frankly, stupid.)
My Mother can't even fathom drinking out of plasticware. Strictly a "glass only" gal.
Another friend will not sleep until she has exactly three pillows on her bed, positioned at precise intervals and angles, ensuring her an ideal stay in dreamland.

I am no exception to bizarre human idiosyncrasies. I am unable to function without two elastic hair-ties securely around my left wrist at all times. (This makes for great formal-wear.) And if I come within smelling-range of canned tuna fish, the universe might explode.

Indeed, we are all weirdos. But one must not blame himself. A weirdo can't come to be without the genes of parental weirdos. It's all hereditary.

Last weekend, an extended family dinner complete with its fair share of oddity got me thinking how exactly we came to be the "Griswoldian" group we are today.

This was a question that required a bit more investigation than simply aunts, uncles, and cousins. I turned to USA.gov's "History, Arts, and Culture" page for information on genealogy and immigration records. Here I was able to reach the Ellis Island site, where I was able to register to see my family's passenger records , and even a picture of the ship on which they came to America.

Turns out my weirdness is an intricate blend of Slovak and Irish lineage. And I couldn't be prouder.