The Recurring "Friend"

There's this guy I met, several years ago, via a mutual hobby, has managed to reappear in my life every few months. We are both in the same field, we both took over our family businesses and, one would think, we'd have lots to talk about but, for whatever reason, I got nothing to say to him. He's a nice enough guy. Means well, cares about other people but, I'm guessing, doesn't have a whole lot of friends where he lives and, as such, he calls me from time to time. His first name is the same as a good friend of mine and, it seems, whenever I email my friend, this guy calls shortly thereafter so, when my secretary says "so and so is on the phone" I pick up, looking forward to the conversation.

This guy, somehow, doesn't detect the hint of "motherfucker" in my voice. I can tell that I sound annoyed and disappointed when I find out it's not who I thought it was. Why can't he?

Why does he keep calling back? I haven't seen him in 5 years, maybe more. I speak to him 3, maybe 4, times a year and each call is as short as I can make it without being a total douche bag.

I just don't get it. I'm not a huge phone guy. Fuck, I'm not a big email guy either. I have my friends. I talk to them from time to time but it's a rare moment when I pick up a phone and call any of them. I might do an email blast to my friends, telling them all the same thing at the same time but I rarely initiate a conversation to shoot the shit. I'm too busy, too disinterested. I'm guessing this is why other people use facebook and why I don't even bother with that. I care a great deal about my friends. I really do. I don't, however, think they want to hear about my mundane life and I certainly don't want to hear about theirs.

Is that so odd?