They say that some of one's best friends are made during college, and they are right, whomever "they" are. The only problem with that statement is that it really sucks after you are done with college. For three reasons.
Firstly, after school the circle of friends will inevitably disperse, then the visits become more in-frequent, it becomes more difficult to meet up, most of the visit is taken up simply "catching up," etc... Secondly, the patterns of activities that one was capapble of whilst in college and only 18 to 23 years old are vastly different than the activities one can attempt when one is 30-ish. It really does emphasize the passage of time. Thirdly, after visits, it is sometimes difficult to get yourself back into the everyday routine, since you have been, to some extent, on vacation from your current life while your friends were here.
All in all the visits can become bittersweet.
On the one hand they remind you of the good times and good friends that you had while not having as much responsibility, but, on the other hand, they can also remind you of things that you do not have anymore.
On the one hand, it is nice to have your life go back to a sense of normalcy (you don't need to ask if anyone wants a drink or is hungry or if they want to have some chips, everyopne knows how the shower works and where the towels are, etc...), but, on the other hand, after the visit is over, you are left wanting more.
On the one hand, you have a reason to clean the whole house, but, on the other hand, you have the necessity to clean the whole house.
Now when family visits, that is a different story all together. More like a small time in Hell or at least Purgatory. There are many reasons for this as well, and I am sure I will go into them as the week progresses and the impending family visits occur for turkey day.
So in summation...
friends coming to stay = good and fun
friends stay ending = bittersweet
family visiting = Hell and/or Purgatory
Firstly, after school the circle of friends will inevitably disperse, then the visits become more in-frequent, it becomes more difficult to meet up, most of the visit is taken up simply "catching up," etc... Secondly, the patterns of activities that one was capapble of whilst in college and only 18 to 23 years old are vastly different than the activities one can attempt when one is 30-ish. It really does emphasize the passage of time. Thirdly, after visits, it is sometimes difficult to get yourself back into the everyday routine, since you have been, to some extent, on vacation from your current life while your friends were here.
All in all the visits can become bittersweet.
On the one hand they remind you of the good times and good friends that you had while not having as much responsibility, but, on the other hand, they can also remind you of things that you do not have anymore.
On the one hand, it is nice to have your life go back to a sense of normalcy (you don't need to ask if anyone wants a drink or is hungry or if they want to have some chips, everyopne knows how the shower works and where the towels are, etc...), but, on the other hand, after the visit is over, you are left wanting more.
On the one hand, you have a reason to clean the whole house, but, on the other hand, you have the necessity to clean the whole house.
Now when family visits, that is a different story all together. More like a small time in Hell or at least Purgatory. There are many reasons for this as well, and I am sure I will go into them as the week progresses and the impending family visits occur for turkey day.
So in summation...
friends coming to stay = good and fun
friends stay ending = bittersweet
family visiting = Hell and/or Purgatory