Wide Open Spaces
Isn't it funny how life tends to just keep going on around you when you're least expecting it? Just three or so years ago I had friends in basically three places: Chicago (where a ton of my college friends went), NW Arkansas (where I grew up), and Austin (where I was living). Sure, I had a few far-flung friends here and there, but the large majority were in those three areas.

Well, in those last few years, we've all been moving around a lot. Victor and I have been in Dallas over two years now. Two years??? Brad moved to L.A. for college, graduated, and is still out there. Collier flitted around between New York, L.A., and Austin more times than I can count. Karen moved to New York. Ellen switched continents (well, technically I guess she switched islands), but it's not like I was able to visit her in New Zealand, so at least she's closer now. And now Aaron and Debbie are heading off to L.A. so that Debbie can attend grad school. It's hard thinking that our tight-knit bunch of friends is spreading itself all over the country, like your favorite scarf unraveling.

On the upside, I suppose it gives us a huge incentive to visit those places where friends have landed. I've been trying to plan a trip to Chicago for ages, so come on, Chicago team, let's get that planned! We're hopefully visiting Ellen in a month or so. In the fall, we can visit L.A. and see Aaron, Debbie, Brad, and Collier. And we're not forgetting New York... Victor has still never been there! We see Billy and Diana in Arkansas semi-regularly on visits to my parents, but the visits are always too short. So they should come visit us!

And one more thing, God bless the internets. It's made the miles of separation seem much less imposing.