Have you ever emailed or called someone you haven't spoken to in many years?
I've done this several times now and it only just occurred to me that this might come across as being kind of weird to them. But that's just how my mind works. I'll move onto another job and people will fall out of my mind, but then years later I'll be thinking of them and get back in touch completely unexpectedly.
Is this weird or cool?
No, not really. I am interested in what kind of reaction you've gotten.
I do recall an incident from a couple years ago. A friend of mine was putting on this event, which involved a fairly elaborate dinner and speeches and presentations, all to benefit her charity. Tickets were fairly expensive, and I had bought five. Near the date of the event, one of the people I had invited told me she would not be able to come. So I was stuck with an extra ticket. I called my friend and asked her what to do. She suggested I call Diane C., who had been part of our group at a number of previous pot luck dinners.
When I called Diane, the reaction I got was: Who the hell are you? Although I had eaten dinner with her on numerous occasions, she claimed not to know me at all and behaved as though I were some sort of con artist trying to pull off a scam.
I've gotten that reaction on other occasions--people I've met several times claiming not to know me, in fact, being fairly hostile.
I don't think there is an "expiration date" on friendship. And I don't have an address book or contact list that keeps track of the last time I was in touch with every person I know.
But many other people seem to feel that unless you have contacted them recently, you belong in the dustbin of history.
One other thing: many people change their email addresses so often that it is not really safe to assume that an email address you haven't used for several years still works. Some people send out email notices about such address changes, but I'd guess they are in the minority--maybe one out of five.