"I finally got some sense knocked into me, and I've got the bump to prove it."

As human beings gifted with so much that God has given us, we have a nasty tendency to take things for granted.  One of those things is friendship.  We grow accustomed to seeing certain people on a day-to-day basis that we lose focus of just how precious those friendships are.  Sometimes it takes tough moments to make us really open our eyes.

In over a month, some of the greatest friends that I have ever had will be graduating.  The thought has crossed my mind many times over the course of the year; but only just recently, I was hit by the realization that it is no longer a 'far away' thing.  As I was hit with this thought, I felt afraid: fear that I may rarely get to see them after they graduate; fear that their departure will be more than I can handle; and fear that I will be forced to grow up.

I guess that is the price when you have close friends who are older than you.  Especially when one is so close that you can almost call her your sister; when one is your girlfriend, with whom you're growing closer to every day; and when one is your brother, whom you have been very close to for as long as you can remember.  It will not be easy.  But it will be good.  For growth to occur, things need to change and events need to happen.  However, I won't be alone, which was another realization that hit me at the same time.  In my second family here at school, only a few of them are leaving.

Trying to place my exact thoughts on this matter is not very easy.  I just have a deep feeling that this May could be one of the toughest months that I will have to face.  However, there are a few things I do know: I will not be alone, I will face a challenge that will make me stronger and more 'grown up,' and just only 'barely' seeing them is definitely out of the question.  I want them to be a major part of my life for, well, eternity.