I miss having friends. Real life friends. Friends I can exchange a hug with. Friends with which I can exchange giggles and that “knowing look”.
I remember having friends. I remember knowing a friend’s house as well as I knew my own. I remember my friends’ parents not giving a second thought to me being at their dining room table on any given night. I remember having friends where I would not feel like an intruder if I happened to find myself needing a place to share Thanksgiving or Christmas or Easter or any other day with them.
Now it’s all about Facebook and blogs and Twitter and Texting. I miss the old days.
I know I have friends in the virtual world and those friends are in no way “virtual friends”. I know that with many of my virtual friends I could show up on their doorstep for a visit without question. I could give them a phone call and know that they would be there to listen. So they really are friends. They are just scattered and not there for those physical hugs and knowing glances and giggles and maybe a cup of coffee by the fire or sharing a tub of popcorn at the movies.
I guess I’m feeling lonely today. I’ve been reading blogs and wishing that I could lend some encouragement besides a comment or a tweet and so I’ve realized that I’m pretty much all alone here. I have my daughter and grandsons a block away. But that’s it. I don’t know anyone else here and because of my “last minute” schedule status where I could be called at any time to take care of one or both of the grandsons, I don’t schedule any outings for myself and so I don’t meet anyone. But I am grateful and happy that I have the boys and my daughter near me. Imagine what it would be like if I didn’t have even them!
In any case, here’s hoping all of you have a friend to share physical space with when you need/want to!
I moved to another country, pretty far away from all of my friends and relatives. Well, I moved here because I married my long distance relationship partner after some years, so it’s not that I’m completely alone (indeed he is my best friend)… But I understand what you say. Feeling alone is the worst thing on earth if you’re not used to it. Hugs from Switzerland and thousand wishes that this may pass soon!
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Thank you! I’m not always feeling lonely. However, when I have something I want to talk about or need to talk about, it’s tough. Right now my mother and father are both having medical problems (they are both in their 80s). It has a brought a lot of feelings and fears to the surface but I don’t have anyone to discuss it with. My daughter has enough on her plate so I won’t burden her but it would be nice to have a friend that I could just talk it out with.
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I hope your parents will be better soon, even though they’re in their 80s. Sometimes writing helps a lot. The community on wordpress can be great audience. I’ve started having medical problems some days ago. My brother got a diagnosis two days before I started feeling pain and now we’re both confronted with a disease nobody would wish for. This sounds nasty now but try to enjoy your position as the healthy one. You have no idea how much it helps when you’re feeling so bad and you have someone who will give you a smile. Try to see the positive in your role and not to worry about what you can’t change. ❤️
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You are right. Our e-friends are wonderful and real, but don’t take the place of interaction with friends in person. You mentioned before you were in a writers group but never or rarely attend. That would be a good starting place. My friends are contacts from writing, workplace and neighbors, current and those who have moved, but still keep in contact. Are there ways to get with people around you? I hope you make an attempt. I’m sure it will pay off.
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Right now my time is not my own. I have to be on call to run over to Tina’s at a moment’s notice. Maybe when things straighten out a bit I will have some time. I haven’t ever been to the writers’ group. There are a couple of them. One is about 20 minute drive and the other is further, like maybe 40 minutes. I’ll have to see if I can make one of them or the other one day soon. That’s the plan anyway.
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I hope you do find time that will give you the opportunity to connect with people near you and make new friends. Our library has events that are a nice way to meet people, and just for an hour. Virtual friends are great, but there is nothing like human companionship 🙂
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Yup. I need to get out more. It will be easier when the weather changes. I hadn’t thought about the library. Maybe there is something there. It’s a tiny library but maybe. Thank you!
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My other advice would be to put yourself first sometimes. Schedule an event and let your daughter know so she can arrange a sitter if she needs one. YOU are important, too. If you don’t respect your time no one will.
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This is what I was thinking as well. I know you love being able to take care of your family as needed – and certainly if this IS only temporary, and you know when it will end, then you can probably accept it a little easier – BUT….you have to remember that YOU are important and in order to be the best YOU for them, you need a day here and there. And what anhinga says about respect – I agree 100%.
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I just bought her an annual membership for a drop in day care center that is five minutes away from here. They will take either or both boys for as little as an hour or as long as the full day. We can’t use it until Spencer turns 2 in April but it’s something to look forward to. There will be hourly fees but they aren’t unreasonable. So we are looking at it as a place where we can take the boys when we need a break or maybe if Tina and I want to go to a movie or dinner without the boys. See, I’m thinking ahead!
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Hey friend! Looking forward to #coffeeshare on the weekend!!! Have a great week!! 🙂
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I can relate to this, Corina. I haven’t really met anyone since moving here, and it does get lonely at times.
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Here for you as a blog buddy until youre well sorted.
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We never know what’s around the corner… and it’s best to enjoy every step along the way… friendship is a wonderful source of both inspiration and support, and there are many aspects of friendship that can be found in virtual friendship too. Good luck, Corina.
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