How would you react to this reappearance?

If you seemed to have a good relationship, work or friendship or both, or more, or whatever, I’d be extremely shocked after pulling a disappearing act like that.
I’d think it even more bizarre if they offered no explanation.
People, they’re nuts!

My response, I dunno, I think I’d just observe and let them circle for an approach. lol

I love it, he said f’it, and I am sure people he cared about, he let them know. He still participates, why shouldn’t he. He has just as much right and prominence to many people as you probably do, even if he is the well endowed janitor..

I’d say “I’m so happy to see you again, @DancingMind. I hope you’re okay. You know I still care about you. If you’d ever like to talk about what happened, you know where to find me.”

I think I’d be happily surprised, and would try to make arrangements to get together more privately in the near future. I’d want to know what happened.

I probably would welcome them with open arms.

Pleased surprise?

I’d probably exclaim something “Wow, you’re alive. What happened to you?!”...then I’d notice their reticence and probably email them later asking for details after I get their card.

Pleasantly surprised, folloed by a hug (if appropriate for the kind of friendship we had) and “Where the hell have you been all this time?”

I also welcome them with my grand opening of a champagne bottle.

I’d be grateful to have them back.

Do they now have prison tattoos? It might explain where they have been.

I am always happy to see long absent friends.

@Jeruba – what a perfect answer. I’d have said that if you had not already done so.