Are you ever surprised at how people react when you haven't seen them in a while (years)?

That kind of behaviour is what I have come expect from people I haven’t seen in a while. Both friends from school and relatives. Oh you have become so this and so that… I don’t think it will ever stop. My guess is that it is some kind of instinctive behaviour almost. If you have nothing to say to a person the easiest thing to say, because you have to say something, is to comment (and exaggerate) what you see. if you HAD had something of interest to tell the person, you would have talked to them during the last four, or ten or whatever years. And vice versa.

Whenever I see someone I haven’t seen in a number of years, and that I’d rather not talk to, I try to avoid them all together, crossing the street or whatever. It’s when I get cornered or stuck in the same elevator that something has to be said and then this is the way it goes. I guess that the other party feels much the same.

Here is a clip of how it might play out.

And here’s what you secretly want it to play out.

@Cartman

Oh, well, I don’t feel bitter or anything. These people were never my close friends or anything and in the case of the second person, it was I who sought them out. If not for that, I don’t think I ever would’ve talked to them again. The best part was finding out what they had done in the past several years, past the initial observations of change in the person. It’s interesting to me. That’s just the way I look at it, of course.

Love the clips, though. I only saw that movie once. I should see it again. :)

@DominicX I don’t feel bitter either really but sometimes it becomes awkward, especially if that person starts talking just because they recognise you. and don’t realise that you where all but enemies in high-school for whatever reason until they initiate a conversation.

It is interesting to see how people, and yourself (myself) react. Mostly I’d rather just avoid it though.

People always tell me I haven’t changed at all and I think that is so unbelievable. Of course I have changed, there a lot of silver threads in my head and a lot more wrinkles.
I don’t dislike the changes, they are like my red badge of courage, I am just surprised when others either don’t acknowledge or notice!

How tall are you now?

I think it’s kinda awkward to talk to someone who you know but haven’t seen in a long time. There’s that weird feeling of “I know you, but not really.” The last thing they remember about you is that you were small, it’s probably the only thing they could think of to talk about.

they mostly say ‘who knew you’d be such a mom’ which I find to be a ridiculous statement but after all there is a reason why you don’t see the people you don’t see

In high school, I had to wear a brace for a few years…which honestly wasn’t a big deal since my friends didn’t even seem to notice and it didn’t stop me from doing the things I wanted to do…and mostly because I had great parents who didn’t make a big deal about it and let me do things that may have caused them concern (skiing etc) I really pretty much forgot about it after high school. At my high school reunion years later, some people (not my friends) came up to me saying, “oh, you were the girl with the brace” I was like what brace? ....It never bothered me until then….but then that was high school and that was a different lifetime…I cherish many of the friends I made at that time and talk with them…but some other people….I can do without….

I had one lady tell me, “Gee, you’ve gained a lot of weight!!” Funny thing was, the next time I saw her she was fat and I had lost the weight.

With men, it’s OK. They’re rather low key with their greetings, you know, “Hey, long time no see” and all that. Women, though. Cripes.

With them, I always get the once-over; they look at my face, my hands, my neck and then loudly exclaim, “Oh, my god, you haven’t aged a day! Look at you! I hate you!” I learnt what ‘smiling wanly’ really meant after 35.

I’m not surprised, but they usually excessively (ugh) comment on my looks since I no longer look like a boy lol.

@rooeytoo I am a proud 5’6”! :)

I hadn’t seen my Mom’s bitchy cousin in about 20 years and when I saw her last she said, “Jan, you look like life is agreeing with you.’ I said, “Yes, it is,” and then she said, “I mean, too much. You’ve gotten fat.”

Needless to say, I have not sought out her company since then!

Good on ya Dominic, I wish I were!!!