The "Phenomenom"

[flower]

Just wondering if you girls (and boys ) have noticed this little situation.
You return from your jaunt abroad......dive onto the phone....do the 'catch-up' thing all the while your in town...having friends ask to see you, meet up, have coffee......
You cant..it's impossible, but you tell them maybe next visit.
So eventually your sentence O.S comes to an end. You do the ring around: "I'm back!!".
How excited are all your friends! Lets do lunch blah, blah!!
Weeks go by....................................they forget.
You call them. "Oh my!! I completely forget your here......"
The phone doesnt call anymore. They've moved on without you. They've learned to live without you.
Life goes on.
Did we believe their lives are on hold without us?
Boo-hoo...............................

[tickle]

Oh flower that would never happen to you!:eek:
Don't worry, I still love you.

[Bron]

Oh Petal. Yes, I think this is all too common, people get used to living their lives without that person around as a constant, and adjustments need to be made when they return. Good friends make the effort to adjust. Others perhaps need a bit of coaxing.

But I can't imagine anyone not wanting to catch up with you!

[flower]

Yes..so hard to not take it personally. I did have a cousin say to me "I just keep forgetting your back".
But then again..I'm off to Tas for a month next week. Going to get my mits on a bobcat for hire.....salivating at the thought!!

[MilkOnTap]

Ahh Flower - the ever-travelling, never-still. I've felt a bit like a bouncy ball the last few months too - hopping around here, there and everywhere. The reaction you get when you return to where YOU call home can sometimes not be what you wanted...

But dont worry F - we'll ALWAYS give you the attention you deserve! Hehehe :thumbsup:

[Pixie]

Well I know what you mean, but I have been collecting dust for years. I have 2 loyal friends. How can one forget such a beautiful flower :D

[zenifa]

Flower, I can totally relate. In November it will be three years since DH & I returned from a 5 year stint living in the UK. We did visit once during our time away and we did upset a few people not being able to fit them in, during our visit. Once we came back it did take time to reestablish our friendships and hard when they seem to have moved on without you and the contact is less frequent. With some friends we've just picked up where we left off, but thats rare I know.Remember there will always be opportunities to make new friends, like on bubhub!!

[melfunction]

Poor Petal....I can relate too, sort of.

I returned to my homeland in June. It was our first visit back with our little treasure..

There were no more going out and getting flogged with our friends. Our priorities have changed.
Most of our friends were very understanding, but the is always a few who think everything will just be the same. These people don't have any kids and have no idea how our life has changed.

It has been 7 yrs since we left there and I can honsetly say, there are only very few people who bother to keep in touch. It's not that we have had disagreements or anything, just that we have changed.

I haven't taken any 'slowed' friendships personally because I know my real friends will always be there.

[red crayon]

well, flower, not long after we spoke and you mentioned this phemenon, a good friend said to me, 'oh you're going back to vietnam in a couple of days? i was just starting to take you for granted'. so, yes, i can see that this will be happening when we are back for good. i guess that once you are home, there is less of the rush to get to see you and people think 'oh, i can see the lovely flower another time'.

[flower]

"Luffly flower" "Dearest Petal"......Sheeeeeeeeeeeeeez you girls lay it on thick!
You got it in one Zenifa.
Jacqui...maybe you'll find it different. I remember my cousin returned from the States after 5 years.....did I ignore her?
Can we press replay so I can see?

[red crayon]

we're a bunch of petal kissers!

i'm not sure about how to approach this...maybe give it time...maybe stick to the friends who've shown themselves to be long-lasters...maybe don't give in....dunno..................helpful, aren't i.

[flower]

Just you wait J.....when you finally return...It'll be you and I all alone on the phone lines together.....
*insert shed a tear emoticon*.....................................

[Pixie]

not being rude or anything Flower but do you think it's perhaps your teeth scaring them away, I mean I look at your avatar and yanno it's looks like you might want to eat my arm........

[flower]

Well Nataliya....having met...you know thats all smoke and mirrors.