Not sure what to call this thread

[Aliantha]

I'm pretty sure that almost if not all of you have been through the same things in your life as I have. Some ups and downs, at times they've seemed pretty extreme, but ultimately, my life has been pretty good.

Anyway, my oldest boy A.n has a mate Quinn who he did the first couple of years of high school with. This school year, Quinn changed to another school to pursue some sporting goals so Aden hasn't seen as much of him over the last 6 months or so as we have before. In fact, they haven't really spent any time together for ages, but today Quinn has come over to spend the weekend with us because it's the first in more than 6 months that both boys have had free before cricket and touch footy season starts.

The thing that brought this all to mind for me was that when Q arrived - courtesy of his mum - I realised how much I'd missed my interactions with her and the friendship we'd built up over the last couple of years. So much so that as they came in the yard and we greeted with the usual kiss and loose hug I burst into tears.

That was when realisation hit me and I told Paula how much I'd missed her.

I don't know why I'm telling you this now or if it's relevant to anything, but my friendships are important to me, and I don't like it when I realise I've been neglectful.

[BigV]

Ali, you double fucking bitch, and I mean that in the kindest possible way....

Brace yourself. Sitting down? Though it kills me to say it (and contradicts my salutation and erodes your street cred), you're... normal. There, I said it.

Of course it's not the occasion of the sporting matches that cause your "outburst". You named it right when you said your friend is important to you and that you missed her. I leave the assessment of "neglectful" to you, I don't have any way to judge that. I do know that I also have friendships that have or have had long periods of idleness. I hold those people close in my heart despite the gulf of time and space that separates us. I know the acuteness of feeling when we connect again. This makes me happy, it makes me happy to hear you burst into tears, because I see those as tears of happiness. The life giving rain that ends the drought of separation between you and your friend.

I don't know what to call this thread either, but it does have happy news in it.

[Gravdigr]

Originally Posted by BigV

Ali, you double fucking bitch...

[sexobon]

... with old friends who are not forgotten.

Good times.

[Aliantha]

I was half pissed when I wrote this thread, but the sentiments were accurate anyway.

I'm glad I had a chance to catch up with my friend. She ended up staying for the whole afternoon and we had some wine and cheese and watched the boys muck about.

It was really nice.

[classicman]

I'm happy for you Ali.

[Sundae]

Emotions affect you differently at different times.
Your reaction was genuine, but the fact that you were surprised simply means you were caught off-guard.

Lots of reasons for that and friends understand.
I envy you the wine & cheese