old kid world faces

lately at camps and parks and birthdays i have been seeing old friends from the kid world. which is only a seven-year-old world and already filled with many layers. there's ashley, the teacher from miles' first preschool, and a kid from that preschool in his camp, and there's another familiar face--how do i know you? oh yes, you are laura lee's buddy and the last time i saw your 7 year old he was not crawling yet. oh hi, yes, from teacher willa's city college class. look how cute and tall she is now. hey, we knew you when the kids were tiny--remember baby jam at our house? there's zephyr, he came to our house once to play, they live a block away. and leo, remember when he and miles were toddlers together fighting over trains? jonah and rye, you are so huge and adorable now, so glad to see you! what is wierd about this is that is seems like so many of the kids we have met since kid world began are still around, growing fast, their siblings who were mere cute blobs in carseats now running around with lightsabers, but all of the kids born to the friends i loved in my life before parenthood have moved away. yes, i am so sorry to tell this sad old story again, but it is true. seems like we know half the kids in this city, and there are tons of them, and great to see them, but the ones i really want to be bumping into, well not just bumping into but seeing for every birthday and the kids whose parents i would love to be bbqing with are all gone. yes, i know part of it is my fault because i have let the bridges come to represent huge huge obstacles. but i am missing you this summer, and your photos are not enough.