In today's Dear Annie column, Annie Lane hears from a frustrated reader who just wants to talk to her old friend on the phone.

I’ve known my friend “Ella” for over 50 years. In the last few years, for whatever reason, she only wants to communicate with me via texting. She has no medical or mental issues. I just saw her at her sister’s funeral.

I’ve told her that I don’t wish to communicate through texting only. I keep asking her why we just can’t talk on the phone like we always have. I’ve informed her I don’t want to type out a whole conversation when we are both holding our phones in our hands.