We have been in touch with these friends again and are discussing meeting up again.

They are always lovely, which of course is very much appreciated. They are kind and intelligent. We feel blessed to know them, but at the same time are concerned about them. I suppose we aren't the only ones (hard to say).
They are also "different."

More questions...relationship with someone with possible alcohol abuse issues....

1. Is it common to go through rather long periods of time when the people seem to disappear?
2. Related to #1...odd periods of quiet, even when it might not be appropriate to be so quiet? For example, if a major thing is going on in your (our) life, yet they stay quiet and kinda forget to say something?
3. Very very mum / quiet about almost anything and everything personal....particularly if it is on the negative side. They will comment on positive things in their lives...an award their child won, for example. BUT, absolutely will avoid commenting on any major difficulty of theirs...a sick child, a death in the family, an issue at work....If something like this happens, I might find out by accident. If they do on a rare occasion, share something like this, it will be told in a stoic fashion. We've known them for a LONG time it at this point it feels very weird to have what often seems like a one sided relationship. They will avoid speaking of anything taxing, stressful or negative on their end. However, they don't mind listening to US talk about such things. They avoid speaking about such things that might be occurring in their lives. Really would like to hear if this odd avoidance "thing" is a common trait of those suffering from alcoholism.

We still have not mentioned the drinking. We think she is doing well, but are very unsure if he is ok. We hope and pray.