July Brings New Things and Old Ones

There are some people in your life that you always expect to be there. You've shared experiences that are irreplaceable and at some point formed a bond that has held tight. It's easy to say that I don't care for talking on the phone and that my trips back home are so short that I rarely see anyone who isn't family. It's easy to say it's a two way street. It is not so easy to accept that someone I consider to be a dear old friend just became a daddy for the second time, and I have yet to meet the first child.
When his first daughter was born, I saw a few pictures on Facebook, most of the child alone and one of the family together, but it was all too surreal to take in. I was, of course, very happy for them. Today, I saw a very different picture with the new daddy next to the hospital bed, peering down at his two daughters and it really hit me how much of this person's life I've actually missed. It seems like too many friends have slipped through the cracks. We've all taken different paths, and while I do not regret mine, I do feel a sadness at the loss of all of these shared joys, all of the birthdays and congratulations that have been passed by. I hope they all feel my love somehow, even when it goes unsaid or unseen.