Fluid friendships

One ritual I have practiced faithfully during all of my adult life is that of sending cards to friends and family at this time of the year. I generally take time to send a personal message to each of the recipients. For many it is a once a year opportunity to connect. I look forward to hearing from friends as to what has happened in their lives in the past year. As time passes I notice that the delivery of some of those cards is one directional. There are probably a number of reasons to explain why that happens. For whatever that reason is, the link between us feels broken. I realize that friendships ebb and flow. Perhaps what held us together over the years no longer exists. Or perhaps it may take a phone call or an email on my part to tell them how much my connection to them means to me. I know that some friendships are only temporal and that we do not always know how long they will last. I can bless the friendship, hold on to the memories, and then let go. When friendships no longer exist, it leaves room for new ones to enter our lives. Cards to new addresses will be sent next year. My life is enriched in the friendships that I hold dear. What changes have you observed in the friendships that have been a part of your life?