Life is short...and goes so quickly

I am a procrastinator. I'm really not sure why. I don't like to be one, but I am. One thing I do that really bothers me is put off sending cards or making phone calls. I just don't make the time for it. Phone calls to family and friends are difficult at times unless my children are cooperating. But a card in the mail -- it's not that tough, and yet I plan to do it and I often don't.

About a year ago, we moved away from my relatives. We had the good fortune to move to my hometown in the summer of 2003. I was able to get reacquainted with the many aunts, uncles and cousins I had grown up with and my children had the chance to get to know their cousins. It was great. After a year and a half, we had to move due to my husband's job. It made me very sad to be leaving my family so soon. I didn't see them all the time, but it was nice knowing we were close and COULD see them when everyone's schedules permitted. And there were a few of them we saw pretty often.

While I was there, three of my cousins and I started going to dinner once a month. We're all in our thirties, have kids the same ages -- it was a nice break for each of us and just fun to visit and spend that time together. After I moved, the other girls quit making the effort to get together and it makes me really sad. In addition, I haven't talked to them much since I left. I tried for the first six months or so to call and keep up with them. Two of them I 've talked to several times. The third has a VERY busy schedule and I can never catch her. She hasn't returned any of my calls, and has maybe e-mailed me once. She's just not that type of person -- not sappy by any means and not the type to keep in touch. After feeling ignored, I was getting frustrated and had told my mom I was ready to give up. I told her I saw no reason to keep making the effort if it wasn't returned.

Last week, I found out this cousin has been diagnosed with cancer. She is my age (only six weeks older!) and it really shook me up. They think they've caught it in time and I'm hopeful and optimistic for her. But I'm also ashamed of myself for being ready to give up on keeping in touch.

Keeping in touch is a two-way street. We're all busy with our lives and it's not always an easy thing to do. Sometimes others don't reciprocate. But you know what? Life is too short. I love my family and my friends. I don't ever want them to think I've forgotten about them or that I don't care.

So I share all this with you because sometimes we need a reminder that whether it seems like it or not, I believe others appreciate it when we make an effort to stay in contact with them...let them know we're thinking about them. They may not return the effort -- they may not even appreciate it right away. But don't let time pass without reminding others how you feel. Some day, it may be too late.