Adieu, Dear Pluto

I've been reminded half a dozen times this past weekend by my dearest brother that Pluto has been kicked out of the solar system. That's not exactly true, but it has indeed been demoted and is no longer recognized as a planet. For as long as I've been on this earth, I've been taught that there are nine planets. Nine, neuf, neuve, ah-hope. My third grade drawing of the solar system included nine crayoned circular blobs. And now there are only eight? That's like telling me that the sky is falling. I'm just as panic-stricken as Chicken Little.