When I was young, I used to worry all the time that as my cousins and I grew up and got old and started to have our own families that my extended family would drift apart. My whole life, when speaking of my family, I'm not talking about my brother and parents. I'm talking about me and the two dozen other people that make up my life. My cousins were my first, and still are, best friends. If ever my mom can't make a race or an event, I know one of my aunts will stand in. Used to build up a lot of fear that I would lose them as we slowly start to change our lives.
          I've had the same anxiety about change and drifting away from the people I love the most in every big stage of my life--I was afraid of losing my best neighborhood friends when we went to Middle School, of losing my new Middle School friends when I went to High School, of losing High School friends when going to college, of losing college friends after graduation.
          These last couple of years since I've graduated from college have seen so many changes in my families and friend circles--new babies, engagements, new jobs, people moving, sickness, breakups. And nothing has fallen apart. Two weeks ago, I got to go out to dinner with one of my best friends I've known since High School, went on a party bus for my cousin with half of my cousins, boyfriend and soon-to-be cousin in law, went out for breakfast with my best friend from college who lives 7 hours away, then played a soccer game with family I've known since birth, a friend I've had since grade school, and all kinds of new people I've just met. That week kind of made me realize that maybe I should quit worrying so much about losing what I have and start enjoying what I have every moment. To quit looking at change as a threat of friends leaving and look at it as an opportunity for friends added. Cheers to all the wonderful changes life can bring to you and everyone you love. I hope you gain many friends and lose few.