Finding Friends

There’s a weird phenomenon that I’ve encountered a number of times in my life.

First time it hit me was when I was laid off back in 2003. Some of my friends were great, eager to help, even if it was just to get me out of the house for a few hours. I remember one of them calling me and saying “Hey, let’s go look at some wood”. We’re both into woodworking. When I hemmed and hawed he asked what the hell else I had to do, being on the bench and all.

So we went to a cool place down in Carrollton and sized up an amazing inventory of hardwoods.

There were others, though, that avoided me like getting laid off was contagious.

This time around, with the old lady leaving, most are sympathetic. But they say the same line I heard when unemployed way back when; “Let me know if there’s anything I can do”.

Back then, I believed them, only to be crushed later when whatever help never showed up.

In reality, that line is almost up there with “Bless Yer Heart”. You have to know the person, or the context.

What I’ve been doing is saying “Thanks. Say, can you lend me five grand?”

That’s when the stuttering starts “Well, ah…ah..ahh..” That’s when I let them off the hook and tell them it’s a joke.

But to some, it’s not. They’ll respond something like – “I’ll lend you some dough if you need it, and give you great terms”. That always shocks me, especially if I don’t know them all that well.

There were quite a few that offered though. Genuine, sincere friends.

Times get tough, you find your real friends.