All Wrapped Up

Why is it that we're so wrapped up in our own lives that we don't have time for others any more?

I'm just as guilty as the next person when it comes to keeping in touch with family and friends. I haven't seen my younger brother Tom, who lives in my hometown of Quincy, Mass., in almost two years but talk to him on the telephone about every two weeks. I just saw my older brother Bob, who lives in San Diego and my niece Jennifer (whom I had not seen in more than 10 years) who now lives in Utah.

My husband and I just got back from Cape Cod where my childhood friend Ann and her husband Chuck have a house. I had not seen them in more than two years and they kept asking us ( I would have given up asking if it were me) to come visit and we finally did. We had a great time and it really felt like family as we sat outside and chatted over a Fourth of July cookout.

From there we headed north to Boston, where we all met at my nephew Mark and Sandi's house and I saw my nephew, nieces Jennifer and Jessica and twin great nieces Holly and Caroline - who just turned 12. It was such a wonderful reunion and I don't know why it didn't happen sooner than this. I guess we're all too busy...and that's the problem.

We're all too busy on the computers and Facebook chatting, and texting and tweeting. I mean I think about my family and friends all the time and say prayers for them every day, but it's not the same as seeing them. I think people have to make the effort to get together with friends and family and just go ahead and make the time.

What do you think? Do you have a hard time getting together with family and friends these days? Any ideas? Please share.