A Birthday Call

Today, I made my annual birthday call to a friend I’ve known since 1998. We’ve only met once in person, but we’ve stayed connected all these years through letters (later emails) and these annual birthday call ritual. This time, though, the conversation took a sad turn - she shared that her mom passed away three months ago, and her brother just last month. It was hard to hear, and I didn’t know what to say, but I listened.

This call reminded me how important it is to stay in touch, even when we don’t see each other often. Life can change so fast, and we never know what’s next. Sometimes just being there, even from afar, means more than words. Staying connected in small ways can really bring comfort during tough times.