BlueSkies, hahahahaha! I'll gladly trade obligatory calls with you. I do enjoy meeting new people.
My brother's emails/texts always find a way to say "call Mom". Every time I squelch the impulse to reply with two things: 1) "You know you don't have to manage my relationship with Mom, right?" and 2) "The phone goes in both directions!"
The ball of our relationship has been bouncing around in Mom's court for a long time. I often speculate that she is just too afraid to try to improve our communication, but it's just speculation. She really just seems the most content alone in front of the TV, not being accountable in any way to anyone. It's her right. I am doing okay without her in my daily presence. When I call, I admit it's usually just to make myself feel like I did something "right". I try to just accept that even though it makes me feel oogy.