Thoughts of a minibus traveller

Spectrum of connections with people A man I know used to do over his address book every year end to remove contacts of persons who no longer were friends. On Facebook a lot of people do their 'culling' and post nice status messages about those who remain .  A woman told me that she don't bother whether the people she considered as friend would consider her as a friend. Once she thinks of them as a friend she will treat them that way. That friend word.. frequently used, different meanings for different people. Friends are needed for social nurturing and in Guyana, we are a 'friendly' people apparently. So many ideas about the nature of friendships, their duration, purpose and expectations. Most of us think of friends as persons we are not likely to be violent towards, and yet so many drinking buddies and loved ones harm and kill each other. I think of this spectrum of connection of persons.  I am sure other people will have other categories. I am not...

Image from http://www.clipartbest.com Should I answer the phone? Do you still have my number? Is it a wrong number? How should I answer? Would my voice show my shock? Should I answer the phone? Should I cut it off? Would it ring again after the first disconnect? Should I answer the phone? What should I say when you ask 'how'? Can I make small talk? How do I talk normally to hide that I am glad to hear from you and also sad at the memories of previous times? Do you really want to borrow the book from me? Why did you call me of all people?  Do you want to talk to me? Is the book an excuse to make contact? How could I make this easy for you? What do I do when I get the book? Do I call you? Do I email you? Do I text you? How quickly can I get the book so that I could contact you? How am I going to give you the book? How will I collect the book from you when you are done? Will we talk about the book? Will we ever talk again? Will we ever talk for hours again without boundaries?...

You're a True Friend So many simple harmonies Have made our moments blend, So many subtle sounds of truth have softly shouted friend So many routine treasures Of good will have tuned our trust So man kind and caring notes Have helped our lives adjust So many friendly acts of faith Have flattered, calmed the soul So many heartfelt hopes have pushed me  Gently toward my goal. So many deeds of understanding, Gestures truly kind, Have left your gentle melodies Of friendship on my mind Bruce B. Wilmer (Wallet Stuffers) A few years ago, a guy who had kind of scared me with his nuff tattoos, plenty piercings and fierce face had asked me for some advice. I tried to get him to sign up for some adult education classes and so on. He never did.. but appreciated that I kept telling him to do it. We have been in contact since then.. always good. His face lights up now when he sees me. He gave me the Wallet Stuffer. I still carry it around.. a reminder of how friend...

"Hey.. do you want a drop down.. I going your way"... driver .. intimate from the past.. who had abruptly cut out when something changed .. and sent messages once a year which said 'hi and bye, busy busy' Me.. "Nah,  I want to tek a walk in the sun" It hit me today.. as I enjoyed the walk in the sun , how friendships and acquaintances and facebook frenz evolve and how things change as we grow older. I used to think that once I made a friend.. that there would be some kind of contact and that there would be some knowledge that even after long periods, there would be time to connect and continue without any expectations and just have laffs. I wondered if I am childish in the 'best friend/no longer best friend' switches.. but then I hear from other  guys of friendships which ended.. sometimes for unknown reasons, or for arguments, or through distance, change of work, change of religion, change of partner. As adults, they also feel concerned (s...