First week:
Me: Do you want to meet up?
Her: Sure, ok, when?
Me: Whenever you’re free, I’m ok any time.
Her: Hmm, ok I’ll let you know, I’m busy this week.

Next week:
Me: So, do you want to meet up?
Her: Sure, ok. We’ll meet up soon.

Week after next:
Me: So, are you busy? Do you want to meet up?
Her: Sure, ok, I’ll let you know when I’m available.
Me: What about this weekend?
Her: Working.
Me: What about Wednesday?
Her: Working still.
Me: What about any other day?
Her: I’ll let you know.

Three years and one week later:
Me: So, we really do need to meet up.
Her: I know it seems like ages.
Me: Yeah, it’s been about three years.
Her: Shit really? We have to meet up soon!
Me: I know…

And so it continues. This conversation has been going on between me and a friend for a while (three years!). Do you think it’s time I take the hint and let the friendship slide into obscurity? When is it acceptable to stop trying?

What’s even worse is that this isn’t unique to that one person, it’s happened with quite a few of my other “friends”. Maybe they really are busy; I’m sure as heck not. Who can you blame in situations like these? Yourself for not trying hard enough? For trying too hard? Do you perhaps blame them for having a life and being busy? For not making enough effort to see you? Or do we just carry on with this little dance until we either find new friends, stop trying, or die?