If “resilience” was the word for 2012, 2013’s theme must be “connection.”
After starting the year off with a bang, finding and meeting my birthmother, and a whole “new” bunch of relatives, we Vaneches are continuing in the same vein.
Basil has heard from a couple of schoolmates he hasn’t spoken to in years, and we’ve had a call from old friends who’ve somehow become mere Christmas card friends. We look forward to seeing their kids blossom in those cards from year to year, but haven’t spoken or visited in ages. Silly, since we used to spend a lot of time together and live just a few miles apart.
They aren’t the only ones with whom we’ve lost touch.
Back in December, I heard from Kathy, another Christmas card friend and former coworker at the Westchester, NY, weekly where I was the editor for a bit. “We should get together,” her note said.
I mentally agreed, set the card aside and continued to let time slip by. Which was a real shame, since I’d had a lovely lunch over the summer with Andrea, another former coworker from the same paper, and we’d mentioned getting together with Kathy.
While it’s true that I’ve been a little … busy these last few months, I knew there was no excuse. So when a St. Patrick’s Day card arrived from Kathy (immediately conjuring memories of her amazing Irish Soda Bread), I set it out and vowed not to put it away until I made the call.
Just today I did; it was great to catch up — we’d not spoken since I was laid off from a different paper four years ago, so there were two jobs, a Jazzercise instructorship, teenager daughter stuff and an adoption reunion to catch up on … and that was just my side of the conversation.
Still, I’m kicking myself. How did I get to a place where my life is so consumed by must-dos, so dictated by a breathless list of tasks, that I allowed important connections to wane? Where do the hours and days go?!
I’ll be trying to find an answer while I call to RSVP for an Easter brunch … with some other friends we haven’t heard from in quite awhile.
Pushing on a Rope 
Staying in touch is important and “life” seems to take over like the “Blob”. It rolls over us and before we know it life has gone “whoosh”. I’m proud of you for making sure that you stay in touch – good for you! I’m going to try to do the same thing and get in touch with people I’ve lost touch with. Thanks for the nudge! Reia from http://www.southcountrysides.blogspot.com
Posted by reiadm | March 17, 2013, 10:55 pm🙂 Hmm…. Maybe then, you’ll inspire someone to reconnect, and we’ll start a mini revolution! 🙂
Posted by Terri S. Vanech | March 18, 2013, 6:55 amYou must be inspiring people, because I’ve gone to lunch in the last few weeks with 2 friends I haven’t seen in years. We stay in touch via FB and Christmas cards, but this was in person. And I love it. Is Basil going to his reunion? He can reconnect with more people that way. Looks like it’ll be a pleasant evening!
Posted by Karen Waggoner | March 16, 2013, 6:06 pm