while growing up i thought my family was really odd, our idea of fun was playing scrabble or boggle, we discussed politics a lot around the dinner table, my mom was UU, we composted and recycled, my mom used had (and still has) a garden, we did work co-op... then as i grew up and learned more and more about other people's families i realized just how functional our family was, none of our fights were very serious, no one in our family was shunned or rejected, the strange member was an uncle that lived on the street and was often in jail because he refused to pay his taxes (money went towards the ROTC program at the local highschool) and was an activists about everything, didn't use the words he or she (made up his own word that did not discern between sexes) but the truth is he came to the big family functions when he could (every now and then a graduation or wedding and the funerals) and he was not crazy but different, intelligent and interesting to talk to in fact.  and that is the most odd part of my family.... and i guess now that i reflect on it all i'm glad, my family is incredibly functional, tolerant and good to eachother.  there are not secrets that i am ashamed of and honestly i think that is what makes my family unusual....