I've had my fill lately of people who appear only when they want something from me. There's a rash of high school graduations back East, and relatives I've never heard from before or since are all beating me like a piñata full of cash. (When did thank-you-notes become optional, again?) Friends old and new are guilty of the same thing. Oh, they'll go through the motions of a pleasantry before the request—How are you? Seen any whales lately? Say, can you do me a big favor... But the call or email always does seem to get around to that request eventually. Lately I've experimented with ignoring one part or the other. Ignored pleasantries receive a welcome enough reception, but surprise—ignored requests reliably result in follow-up mail. Just feel the love. Makes me all warm and fuzzy inside.
Now I'm not naive. I know that every human relationship has an economic component, that we're in them because each party is somehow benefiting. Which I guess is my point. What's in this for me, again? Beyond the privilege of serving, I mean?