Then everyone starts having babies.
And as I said to someone at work, this seems to be the time when friends' parents are getting serious illnesses or dying.
Or, worse, when friends are divorcing.
Can I tell you something?
I've been stunned for most of this year and I couldn't even talk about it.
This year I heard from FIVE friends who are now either getting/ have gotten divorced.
- friend is a casual one
- work friend from old company
- one set of really close friends
- one set of good friends
- an online friend
I still cannot believe this of two of the friends. I'm devastated by the one - we know and love them both. He will not take anyone's phone calls. She is being amazing, carrying on and focussing on the necessities of life - getting kids fed and to school.
And I have not been the best friend because I don't know what to say. We have had conversations on the phone and I've said sometimes, "I can't believe we're even having this conversation!" It's completely surreal.
Anyway, I eventually wrote a card and she sent me a message when she received it - we are okay.
The other friend unfriended me, stopped answering SMS and whatsapp (you know my feelings on whatsapp but the great thing is you can see if people are blatantly ignoring your messages) too. I sent her a card too but no response. I didn't expect a response but I'm saddened by this.
Have you had friends go through hard times like this? How do you support them?
