I come from two families, one that is three times the size of the other (eight times if you include my cousins’ spouses and children). Neither side lives in the same state as me but a few family members are only a short drive over the state border. Living hours away from the vast majority of my family means missing out on a lot: birthdays, graduations, marriages, births and other events.

To my loved family,

Short and simple, I miss you. We are hundreds of miles apart and I only see you every couple of years. I wish there was a way to make us physically closer or able to see each other more often. Although Facebook is huge part of us keeping in touch and our parents call each other to catch up with their siblings, it doesn’t replace actually being together. The laughter and fun of being around each other is something that I miss out on a lot but I immensely enjoy it and try to take as much of it in when I do get to be with you. I always look forward to seeing you because it doesn’t happen nearly as often as I wish it could.

Being far apart has changed the way our family is. A lot of you are closer (literally and figuratively) to each other because you live closer together. Sometimes it’s hard to see that because I feel like I don’t have a choice on being left out. I wish we were felt closer but that’s just one of the downsides to living hundreds of miles apart. It doesn’t make me care or love any of you less but it is tough to feel as close when we only interact on Facebook.

Facebook has been one of the greatest things for keeping in touch with you guys. Being able to see what you (and your kids) are up to makes up a little for the distance. I get to watch your family change and grow without having to pay for gas or a plane ticket. I don’t know what I would do without Facebook (thank you Mark Zuckerberg). Seeing your family and their achievements that I wouldn’t know about otherwise is one of the better parts of my day.

I wish I could be there for all of the milestones and events that happen in your lives. Missing out on family events is tough. I see the photos on Facebook which will have to suffice for now. Every birthday party, graduation and wedding that I miss is bittersweet. Most bittersweet of all is missing the new babies. Although my love for babies and my ever-growing family may make this a little biased, it’s tough seeing a new baby and know that I may not meet them until they’re walking and talking. I wish I could be there for their milestones and watch them grow up in person rather than through Facebook.

It’s hard to imagine what my life would be like if I did live within a reasonable distance and saw all of you fairly often. I would probably be a different person than I am today. Despite the distance and “what-could’ve-been’s”, I know we have each other’s back and support each other through anything and I love you all for that. Hug your families for me; tell them I miss them all. Hopefully we will see each other soon.

Love from near and far,

Kelly