From the Friday Five

1. Would you say that you're good at keeping in touch with people?

Generally no. If I get back to someone RIGHT AFTER I get the letter, or the e-mail, or the phone message, yes. But if I put the letter aside (because I don't have time to reply right then), I never get back to it.

I have Christmas letters from two friends I never responded to. I didn't have their current addresses at the time I sent my cards out, but then they sent me cards in January...they're still sitting on my desk. Bad me.

2. Which communication method do you usually prefer/use: e-mail, telephone, snail mail, blog comments, or meeting in person? Why?

Depends on the situation. For quick simple things I like e-mail. But I don't like e-mailing people "just to talk" - for that I prefer the phone or a letter, it seems more personal and it's also easier to convey my mood. I also like meeting in person if it's at all possible. That's my favorite if it's possible - even if it's delivering bad news. Especially if it's delivering bad news. I think it seems more compassionate and human to do it that way.

3. Do you have an instant messenger program? How many? Why/why not? How often do you use it?

No. I'm just not into that. I don't like being that readily available. And I don't type fast, so I would be really slow at it. I don't do chat rooms either, for the same reason.

4. Do most of your close friends live nearby or far away?

Far away :(

But I am making new friends here in town. I'm just slow at it.

5. Are you an "out of sight, out of mind" person, or do you believe that "distance makes the heart grow fonder"?

Depends on the person and how long I've been away from them. Generally I'm out of sight, out of mind. But I find there's a particular point in the semester - which is about now - when I really start to miss my parents and my brother and sis-in-law and wish I could see them. But they live in Illinois and I live in Oklahoma, so I'll have to hold out until Thanksgiving.