And they don't get back to you...they got back to you.

Don't panic. Don't get mad. Don't ring them up and abuse them for the discourtesy. Accept the gift of their neglect - it is a pure and authentic expression of their concern and deep regard. And it contains the greatest gift that anyone can receive: freedom.

Freedom from having to care about their affairs - about their progress - about their fate. Freedom from having to invest your time, work, and money in their projects. Freedom from the responsibilities of helping or obeying them. It may be a bit frightening to be a free elf, Dobby, but you may benefit greatly from it.

Of course there are extenuating circumstances - if your interrupted caller was savaged by dobermans and in hospital having their buttocks sewn up when they should have been calling you or returning the email, you must make allowances. A simple excuse, or at least a selfie taken as they lie face-down on the hospital bed should suffice. You need not probe their wound...

But if they just " got busy " and never " got back " you can assume that they are industrious, busy, and selective enough not to need your help in the future. Go about your own business with a light heart.

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