Keeping in touch...

Fresh out of the Holiday Season's people tend to tell you.."Keep in touch!".

But what does that really mean? And to what degree are you expected to fulfill that request?

I had caught myself saying that a couple of times this Christmas - OK, well 6 times really. But I was just wondering if by my saying that to the other person it shifts the responsibility to "keep in touch" on the square shoulder of that other person, to keep in touch with me I mean. No, I mean not that I would plan to pick up the phone, send an email, postage a postcard, mail a letter, all that mushy stuff to stay in touch. Really! What does this phrase connote? Let me check...

I like people, all people during the holidays, but to call me up and say I have a moment here and there and visit with me - I mean I have other things to do that very moment, maybe or maybe not. Is it the likelihood of their bad timing, that I do not like? It is almost like an imposition when you request someone to stay in touch with you. Just thinking how we miss our old acquaintances but there is too much expectations (goes with disappointments) that is invested in relationships with people that you do not live with.

I have friends that I really do not mind, picking up the phone to call, sending a text message, sending an email..but there are those that are just..well...to say it mildly ...a chore to keep up with. I guess, I can categorize those that I do not feel joy in trying to contact, but there are those that I only get to speak with once every year and we are both happy with that --a courtesy contact, you might call it. There are those that EXPECT too much from another because of association - you are affiliated and friends only because that person knows your boyfriend or wife and thus by default you have to keep up appearances. I hate that, don't you?

The ones that are genuinely a pleasure for me to keep in touch with are those that know exactly what and where they stand in the order of importance and their relevance to my life right now. I am a more of a NOW person, I like to take a glimpse to the future but I like just the thought of living for the moment. I think as I started to get older, I like the NOW rather than holding on to a past and planning too much for the future. NOW is so short of a time period that to think back or looking too much in the future or forward, is missing the PRESENT.

People are different and I see that what means a lot to me, does not mean anything to another. And I respect that. So I would make it a point not to say "Keep in touch" anymore from this point on. If they call me, fine, if not, it is fine as well. And I hope they will accord me the same courtesy and rule. There.

I have kept in touch with people all through the years even with the ones going back to the very ones I had forged a relationship with since I was 4 years old, but sometimes we are all in different levels in our lives and careers that we take a glimpse of the past and smile, and we move on...and acquaintances and friends sometimes get forgotten in that process of moving on..

I kind of like that ..keeping in touch within the bounds of relevance to each other's life. And the rest is just clutter...and I hate clutter...don't you?

First day of 2008...an open confession

First day of each year is a great way start anew. I like 2008 already, it is a nice round number and we get an extra day in February. Love it.

I do not do New Year's resolution.

Hopefully, I would get to spend more time with my "R" this year than last.

For my "M", I pray that he gets to start his journey this year towards fulfilling his dream.

To the first person who said, "No one really goes back home" thank you. I have pondered those words and they really are true. Everything changes with time, and nothing ever remains the same.

I am thankful for all the songs whose lyrics I now know, now I can sing along when they come on the radio.

I am looking forward to making all those new friends that I have not yet met.

I will really try to work hard in learning and remembering my spanish words and vocabulary.

In advance, I would like to apologize for all those people whose birthday I will forget, it seems at each year the number of people who birthday I forget increases as my age (ahem) increases.

The thought of going earth friendly really appeals to me, that is a MUST project for me.

I promise my friends from years past that I will keep in touch with them. One email every year does not count as keeping in touch.

I am unable to cut down on coffee so I gave us soda 4 years ago. I think I was born to drink coffee and I love it. Really.

To my very close BFFs I will try to be more updating on where I will be at a given time of the year. Sometimes I just forget to tell you that I am going on a 3, 4 or 5 month trip ..sorry.

Try to figure out how to be in 2 (or 3) places at the same time.

Not to forget that Perfection is an expectation and not an end result.

That I can survive intense disappointments, sorrow and sadness .

My quest is not for ultimate happiness ( I do not know what that is) but that I be fulfilled and content.

Self-sacrifice is most meaningful when done out of love .

Growing old gracefully, there is no such thing.

My list goes on and on...but most of all 2007 was a learning experience of my life. I look forward to 2008, this will be the best yet and I can feel the nice breeze it will bring to me this time..but again I say that every year...