I was drafting out a new will the other day, and it got me thinking. Friendship is something so many of us take for granted, but through force of circumstances not all of us have it. Often is the case as we progress in age, our circle of friends become less as older colleagues retire and lose contact with you, while younger members of your family have their own lives to lead. As the years progress we become content to give neighbours a cursory nod and pop the mandatory Christmas Card through the door. While younger members of society seem to have overflowing diaries, there are a surprising number of individuals whose small circle of friends are rapidly depleting to such an extent, that buying a box of twelve Christmas Cards is a waste of money - in my case I send out five Christmas Cards every year. I used to send a lot more but, although they had a return address, nobody reciprocated. I have colleagues at work, but that is all they are; people I work with. As soon as five-o-clock comes, that's them off. They've all got their own homes to go to. Although I originally came from a family of six, apart from my daughter, my wife, and her sister, nobody else gives a s*it about me. Don't get me wrong - I'm not feeling sorry for myself, but my concern is for them, for when something happens to me. I actually put in my will "Subject to there being a sufficient number of individuals present at the service to justify a couple of hymns, the following are of great meaning to me..."
My late aunt was coming up to ninety when she passed away - seven people attended her service. No hymns - nothing. In and out in eighteen minutes.
You all come across as a cheerful, happy lot who know one another, so are we in a minority, or are there other others out there who don't even know their neighbour's surname? Are we all going the same way? Donovan's "Streets of London" echo through our ears.
One good friend?
One good friend?
Nomad;626892 wrote: I dont want to know my neighbors. They might talk to me.
:wah:
:wah:
One good friend?
weinbeck;626891 wrote: I was drafting out a new will the other day, and it got me thinking. Friendship is something so many of us take for granted, but through force of circumstances not all of us have it. Often is the case as we progress in age, our circle of friends become less as older colleagues retire and lose contact with you, while younger members of your family have their own lives to lead. As the years progress we become content to give neighbours a cursory nod and pop the mandatory Christmas Card through the door. While younger members of society seem to have overflowing diaries, there are a surprising number of individuals whose small circle of friends are rapidly depleting to such an extent, that buying a box of twelve Christmas Cards is a waste of money - in my case I send out five Christmas Cards every year. I used to send a lot more but, although they had a return address, nobody reciprocated. I have colleagues at work, but that is all they are; people I work with. As soon as five-o-clock comes, that's them off. They've all got their own homes to go to. Although I originally came from a family of six, apart from my daughter, my wife, and her sister, nobody else gives a s*it about me. Don't get me wrong - I'm not feeling sorry for myself, but my concern is for them, for when something happens to me. I actually put in my will "Subject to there being a sufficient number of individuals present at the service to justify a couple of hymns, the following are of great meaning to me..."
My late aunt was coming up to ninety when she passed away - seven people attended her service. No hymns - nothing. In and out in eighteen minutes.
You all come across as a cheerful, happy lot who know one another, so are we in a minority, or are there other others out there who don't even know their neighbour's surname? Are we all going the same way? Donovan's "Streets of London" echo through our ears.Good post, and so true.
I dont know any of my neighbours forenames never mind surnames!
My late aunt was coming up to ninety when she passed away - seven people attended her service. No hymns - nothing. In and out in eighteen minutes.
You all come across as a cheerful, happy lot who know one another, so are we in a minority, or are there other others out there who don't even know their neighbour's surname? Are we all going the same way? Donovan's "Streets of London" echo through our ears.Good post, and so true.
I dont know any of my neighbours forenames never mind surnames!
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DelicateDominatrix
- Posts: 535
- Joined: Wed Feb 28, 2007 2:15 pm
One good friend?
Good post and very true.Friends can be easily made,but true friends are rare.
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chonsigirl
- Posts: 33633
- Joined: Mon Mar 07, 2005 8:28 am
One good friend?
That is a sad comment on the times, but true quite often. I am lucky to have many friends here, who help me through the hard times.
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Patsy Warnick
- Posts: 4567
- Joined: Fri Feb 03, 2006 12:53 am
One good friend?
I don't know my neighbors names - I have nick names for them.
Neighbors to the right are "Good Doobies"
across the street "Barbie & Ken"
God only knows what they call me??
I'm getting to know the Good Doobies - nice couple - we watch their home while they're on vacation & visa versa
Christmas card list is dwindling to a few - with the price of stamps very few..
Everyone seems to be so busy - too busy to call & keep in touch on a regular basis, its unfortunate.
Patsy
Neighbors to the right are "Good Doobies"
across the street "Barbie & Ken"
God only knows what they call me??
I'm getting to know the Good Doobies - nice couple - we watch their home while they're on vacation & visa versa
Christmas card list is dwindling to a few - with the price of stamps very few..
Everyone seems to be so busy - too busy to call & keep in touch on a regular basis, its unfortunate.
Patsy
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RedGlitter
- Posts: 15777
- Joined: Thu Dec 22, 2005 3:51 am
One good friend?
I know maybe three of my neighbors these days and I don't like two of them. We keep to ourselves pretty much.
I have a small circle of friends and in that circle I have three close ones. I always figured it was me because people seem to think I'm so dang gregarious yet still a little weird or offputting or else they think I'm a drag because I don't like to drink (seriously.)
My family is a bit of a disappointment. I have cousins who love me but won't speak to me because of religion or divorce issues.
I have one uncle left and one aunt by marriage. I have cousins everywhere but don't know but maybe five of them yet we don't bother to stay in contact. I'm just as much at fault because I tend to be a loner and I wait for other people to call or write or visit me first and when that doesn't happen I assume they want nothing to do with me. So nothing gets accomplished.
My mother's leaving this world brought some of us closer....for about two months and then everything went back to how it was before.
I am beginning to think you come into the world alone and you leave alone too.
People are too busy with all sorts of BS to cultivate serious meaningful relationships with other people. My opinion.
I have a small circle of friends and in that circle I have three close ones. I always figured it was me because people seem to think I'm so dang gregarious yet still a little weird or offputting or else they think I'm a drag because I don't like to drink (seriously.)
My family is a bit of a disappointment. I have cousins who love me but won't speak to me because of religion or divorce issues.
I have one uncle left and one aunt by marriage. I have cousins everywhere but don't know but maybe five of them yet we don't bother to stay in contact. I'm just as much at fault because I tend to be a loner and I wait for other people to call or write or visit me first and when that doesn't happen I assume they want nothing to do with me. So nothing gets accomplished.
My mother's leaving this world brought some of us closer....for about two months and then everything went back to how it was before.
I am beginning to think you come into the world alone and you leave alone too.
People are too busy with all sorts of BS to cultivate serious meaningful relationships with other people. My opinion.
One good friend?
i have many many friends most i have been friends with for over 35 years ,i have only ever had one good friend that i'm not friends with any more ,i guess i'm just a heart on my sleeve type of guy ,i should keep in contact more with my mates but it just seems so much hassle ,but they know if they have a problem i will be there even if i had to drive to scotland i'd be there for them as i hope they would me :-6
One good friend?
I used to have lots of friends until I stopped paying them.