get better at keeping in touch with people who are important to me

This is a slow go, but I am making some steady progress.
1) social media – trite, but at least posting & reading updates keeps me somewhat in touch
2) going to visit local friends, or having them come to my house, at least monthly
3) Meeting up for after-work suppers at least three times a month

I haven’t figured out how to make this seamlessly occur; if I don’t take active steps, time just slips away and I suddenly realize “I haven’t connected with so & so in months!”.

I’ve started scheduling mid-week dinners with various friends, to try to ensure some form of face to face contact with at least the ones who are local to me.

I’m still not doing as well as I’d like on the long distance friends, but at least I am making some progress.

I’ve invited a few friends over for movies and supper this coming Sunday afternoon.

I’m not great at keeping in touch, but I am trying to make conscious strides in this direction.

I had 5 people over yesterday, for snacks and drinks and then supper.

We watched African Queen – from the DVD collection I purchased from my soon to be ex-husband.

Low key, quiet, and a very nice afternoon / evening…

I’ve got 3 social engagements lined up for this weekend, all with different sets of friends. Yay!

Now that I am getting settled in my new residence, I’d like to entertain more often – and thereby keep in touch with the people who are important to me.

I need a kitchen table, and a loveseat or small sofa. That way, there will be a place to dine during dinner parties, and enough seating for small gatherings.

Ideally, I’d like to find these items in a consignment shop or an outlet – I don’t want to spend a lot of money, but I do want very nice quality items.

SUB-GOALS: acquire these items by the end of February. Start inviting people over at least once per week.

Once I am living by myself again, I’d like to set up a regular – maybe monthly – Sunday afternoon gathering at my house. Food, friends, and lots of comfortable chairs :)

I’d do it weekly, but I don’t think I can commit to that level of availability. If I pick something simple, like “the first Sunday of the month”, then it’d be easy for everyone to remember.

I made a point of calling several people I haven’t spoken to in a while, and wishing them (or their voicemail) a Happy Thanksgiving.

Sunday night, I met up with my two sisters and my daughter for supper at a relatively new restaurant: Parrish.

Since both my parents are long dead, these are the three people biologically most closely related to me…

We all had a good time telling stories & laughing at stuff that would have had us (well, the sisters) pulling hair over a few years ago. I’m glad we’ve all mellowed and are secure enough in our individual lives so that we can laugh, rather than bicker.

I’ve left voicemails & comments on their blog… finally got to chat briefly online. I’ve done my best to re-establish contact… and I can understand if they don’t want to invest in re-acquainting. After all, I’ve been the one to let the friendship languish…