Do You Have Friends?

I was reading this and I have to say it made me very sad.  So many of us are out "there" alone these days with no real people (by that I mean face to face) people to connect with.  Thank goodness for the internet.

My answer to this question.  I have three or four good friends and I can call and chat with them if I need/want to but mostly we don't.  They live in all the places I used to live.  I only have a brother in the family category.  We don't like each other, never see each other etc.  I have never understood why. No extended family of aunts, uncles or cousins either.  Sort of an orphan. Not much family history of "good times".

My own little family of husband, daughter and son isn't much better.  I see the husband all the time and we are probably best friends to each other.  The daughter is less involved with us now that she has a boyfriend which is a lovely thing.  She had been very sad and terribly lonely for 12 years and is now happy.  She lives nearby but we don't see each other often.  She walks my dog when I ask her to.  My son lives in CA and it's been 2 years since we have seen him in person.  He calls on birthdays and major holidays.  Easter isn't one.  He lives alone which makes me sad but he has a group of close friends and sees them often.  They are more than likely having Easter dinner together. I envy him that close group of friends.

Most of the "friends" I have had over the most recent years have actually been work acquaintances or related to my interest in quilting and now my Master Gardening group. I have always been lucky enough to make casual friends with people.  None that I could ever count on if I needed a friend. Perhaps.  But I haven't "tested" it and, so, don't know.  I do have two friends who I have lunch with occasionally.  I enjoy that a great deal, but never see them any other time.

And now, there is the internet.  I share more of my day with complete (not really) strangers.  People I wouldn't know if I saw them in person.  You (reading this) know me better and in more detail than anyone else.  How odd is that? I can depend on you.  You send messages of comfort and helpful advice.  I feel that, if you lived close by, you would bring soup and kleenex if I was very sick or stop by on my birthday with a fancy cupcake.  My husband, daughter and son read my blog.  To find out about me.

Was it always this way?  Do we now have so much free time to notice we are lonely, have no one to talk to, or are we lost without someone to laugh with?  I think it's number three.  No one to laugh with.  Thank goodness everyone who comments on my blog posts can make me happy and laughing out loud at least once or twice a week.  Crack Pots and Farty Cereal.

Time to exercise.  And do household chores.  My daughter read my blog and the mention of ham and has called to invite herself over for dinner (and the boyfriend).  Oh!