Facebook, Twitter, WhatsApp, email, text, phone, Skype, or the good old fashioned letter, these days we have almost countless ways of staying in touch. And yet it seems more difficult than ever to actually do so.
It takes time, requires an effort. God knows, I spend more time writing this blog than writing emails to my friends. However, I think about them often and usually get around to writing them in one way or another. Sometimes it’s just a matter of doing it right away instead of postponing it yet again.
I am acutely aware of who’s not heard from me in a while and who I therefore definitely need to write an email. On the other hand, though, I’ve not heard from them in just as long and sometimes they could make that extra bit of effort themselves.
I just had to email one of my friends, who stood me up on numerous occasions now, that I am now going to wait for her to make the effort instead of me being the one reaching out time and time again.
You know, every now and then I would like to know that I, too, am worth a bit of a try. No one likes to be taken for granted and if I consider you my friend then I do so for a reason and I value you more than you probably realize.
I would hope that goes both ways.
I love my friends. Everyone that I call friend can be certain that I love them. And that I miss them, because they’re scattered around the globe at this point in my life and if I manage to throw in another 365 days of continuous travel in the somewhat near future, it is my aim to visit most if not all of them.
So, let’s have a Skype date, you and me, whenever you like. Because I would like to see your face and hear your voice and be silly for a moment or two and get caught up on what you’ve been up to.
Let’s all get WhatsApp on our bloody phones so it’ll be cheaper to send each other a smile when we feel like it rather than sending an expensive text half way around the world that may remain unanswered because it was lost in the ether.
Remember to like something I said on Facebook, because you actually did like it and want to show that you care.
Email me a link to photos you posted from your last holiday on Flickr or Tumblr or wherever it is you post your photos.
I want to know that you had a baby and what her name is. I want to meet her one day and recognize you in her.
I want to know how your travels went and hear the crazy stories of your recklessness.
I want to agree to meet you half way around the world for a random get together and hug you when I see you and hug you once more when we part ways again for however long.
I want to matter enough to you that you want me at your wedding or civil union or whatever you chose. And you need to matter enough to me to make the effort and try and be there.
I want to know that time and distance doesn’t matter in our friendship and that we will make an effort, however small it needs to be these days of limitless communication, and stay in touch.
It’s not that hard. And it’s so worth it.
Know that when I hear from you in whatever way, shape or form, you will have made my day a little better and that I will smile at the thought of you. Because you are my friend and I love you.
It’s that simple and it’s it should be said. It needs to be said, because I don’t know when I will see you again.
Remember that, if we do one day should lose touch indefinitely, I will remember you fondly and will hope that you have the wonderful life that you deserve.
2clouds 