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Is it me? Beginning to think it must be đŸ€”

(52 Posts)
Marmight Fri 21-Feb-25 07:23:32

I have a number of what I term ‘Christmas card’ friends. Good friends from way back who now keep in touch just at Christmas. Time and distance have separated us. Over the past few years I have contacted them by phone as well and we have a lovely long chat and a catch up and they all say ‘oh, thank you Marmight, it’s been so lovely to talk. We must do it more often’ or words to that effect. And that’s it until the following year. The contact always comes from me. A couple of years ago I was in the area where a number of them live which is some 400 miles away and hoped to meet up with some of them but none of the days I suggested were convenient - for any of them. I understand we all have commitments, are ageing and have some health/family issues but had the tables been turned, I’d try to make an effort to be accommodating! I’ll be there again this summer for a big family holiday. Should I try again or just enjoy the time with my family and accept that time has passed, things have changed and just remember the good times we had all those years ago.

Lydie45 Tue 25-Feb-25 14:39:24

My mother had a saying you shouldn’t go back which I’ve always followed. My husband on the other hand was always delighted to contact old friends he hadn’t see for years. It nearly aways turned out to be a disappointment. After many years you are strangers. The exception I made was when I held a surprise retirement party for him and invited some young men he had been an apprentice with. It was a disaster. One man who had been such a fun person sat in the corner and continually listed all his ailments and illnesses. Another moaned all the time about his children. There were all these old men moaning. One kept in touch and I received a letter from him at Christmas but it was all about the medical mishaps he and his partner had had during the last year and despite my dear husband dying I was lucky as I saw our children as he didn’t see his. He did say I was lucky as I had had a happy marriage which was true but his marriage had been a disaster. I look forward to hearing from him next year. Again as my mother would say “if I’m spared”.