A friend of mine sent me a text last month. “Hope you’re doing well,” he said. “Any time for a call, just to catch up?” It’s always nice when a friend reaches out  — this friend is particularly diligent at staying in touch — so we set a time for a chat the next day.

It was only later, after the friendly call, that I glanced at his contact card on my phone. Our previous calls were listed, along with the date of each, and I noticed that he and I talk every five weeks. Not every five weeks or so, but every five weeks to the day. Each time preceded by a text.

So then I looked at my text messages. And it turns out that my friend sends me a Let’s catch up text every five weeks, the same interval as the calls, exactly one day before each of our calls. And the wording of the texts is always the same.

But the wording alternates. Some weeks it........

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