Subtle conversations, Tracy — I guess too subtle, right? I think this sort of behavior is rampant these days. People are so insular and disconnected. Maybe it has to do with social media? I honestly don’t know.

I often walk my dogs through a nearby neighborhood of single family homes. The blinds/curtains in every window in every home are closed. I rarely see a human being unless it’s someone walking to their car. The neighbors don’t appear to interact at all.

On our weekday morning walks, we pass by the bus stop for the middle school kids and the high school kids. They don’t talk to one another. Don’t interact at all. Most of them are scrolling on cell phones, a few read, some just stand. These kids live in the same neighborhoods, ride the same buses, go to the same schools but they don’t communicate.

I think my situation with friends is indicative of a much larger problem.

Fortunately, since moving almost 2 years ago, we’ve made a couple of new friends here who are engaged and do reciprocate invitations.