Separation and Distance

Hmm... Kind of depressing title huh? Whoops. Well today I contemplated separation and distance. I had the amazing privilege of going on a 19 day tour with a group of 56 other marvelous people who I miss dearly. I get attached to people much too easily and quickly. Considering that about three quarters of these people who went on the tour with me live within fifteen minutes of my home, you'd think that we would all stay in touch and be happy jolly together because we love being around each other so much. But for some reason that I don't understand, it isn't that way. In Rachel World, everyone gets along and loves everyone so that's where that slightly silly idea comes from. But the gist of this paragraph is... I miss everybody.
Well back to what brought me here really. I ran into three of my tour buddies this morning at a parade and we had a fun mini reunion. And when I got home I thought about how strange it is, the way our lives can run in circles in a way. And how our lives can be truly changed when our circles cross other peoples' circles. Well 56 other peoples' circles changed mine. And it is truly strange to me how my life continues with my dear friends and other people the way it was before, and I just keep going in my circle, wondering where everybody is, what they're doing, and where the heck they are. I also want to know what they're doing with their little life circle. Who's crossing it, coming to cross it, and who has left the circle all together. Well that's kind of the separation part, now time for the distance part that confuses even me a little bit. What's even stranger to me is that lives that were so intertwined together can continue moments from each other and yet not touch. That minutes away from me, someone I haven't talked to in months is continuing their life and their little circle and I have no part in that. Which is kind of a bummer to me. But yet, a friendship can stay very strong across a couple states. I have friends in other states right now that are proof of that. Families can stay as strong as ever across states and oceans, and lovers can keep a relationship going across hundreds and thousands of miles. And their circles stay happily intertwined. But my little circle, and other peoples' little circles still don't touch, despite small distances.
I would be very interested to run into some really old friends. Like kindergarten pals or friends from church camp 2 years ago. I want to know how everyone has changed, but yet I also want to know how they've stayed the same, and what they've stayed true to. I want to know who and what has come into their little life circle and how it has affected them.
Sometimes I wish I had an all-seeing eye so I could check up on everyone now and then. But for now Facebook will have to do. That's as good as an all-seeing eye that needs a contact lens. Well back to the joy sucking education called drivers ed.
Lovingly,
Rachel