Shadows

Friends become acquaintances and then shadows of a thought.
A name that rings a bell, which echos through our consciousness evoking images from our shared past.
You know how in movies, they show the strands of a cable snapping - one by one - to build up the suspense? I see that in the relationships around me...
A friend tonight made the perfectly reasonable suggstion that we not exchange gifts for our children this year as we seldom visit and besides they will be out of town for the holidays. It is a welcome suggestion in that we were trying to reduce the amount we spent on presents this year BUT it feels like one more strand in a friendship snapping and flying free.
By accepting the argument, we are each accepting the stated rationalizations. I don't want to agree to continue not visiting as often as we did when the children were first born but it is true that we aren't.

What does that say about all those friends I haven't seen since I graduated from high school 23 years ago. Can I still call them friends?

What about my brothers whom I mostly see at funerals for departed family?

Shadows,
what about my child will I see him less and less becoming a shadow in his life as sports and school then career and family grow to my exclusion. Will I regret that line I draw each night when I say just one more hug and kiss then you have to go to sleep? Should I be storing these up for a shadowy day that is creeping ever nearer?

Shadows,
have I become my own, when did I stop chasing the butterflies of my dreams and get down to chasing my next paycheque so intently?

Shadows,
If I see shadows all around, does that mean I have turned around with my back now to the light I used to desire so intensely?

Should I sound the horn?
Is it ragnorak approaching or only shadows making an old man jumpy?