Where I've Been For The Last Month

[EweSheep]

Me too!

 

[Laurajean]

Quote:
Oh, God yeah. I would have hung myself a long time ago if it weren't for being able to laugh at things. Makes me think of years ago, in my early 20's, I used to live in Brooklyn, NY with like 5 roommates.....those were the days. Anyway, when me and my best friend were someplace, say in a checkout line joking around, and there was some stiff in front of us being all crabby, we would say "Looks like someone had a Humorectomy......"

They can take my money, my health, my pride, but they can never take away my ability to write sarcastically about my own failures!!!

And that's why we love reading your posts.

Thanks (I think??)

 

[Laurajean]

Okay guys, I have a question, and I'm cringing as I type because I have a feeling I'm going to get a lot of

faces.... but here it goes.

When he first came to visit, BEFORE I knew it would all go bad and that he would be a dead beat, I bought him a Christmas gift (this was a couple of weeks before Christmas). It's an official Red Sox Jersey, $175.00. He had casually mentioned (before he even visited) that it's the only thing he's ever asked for, and his family never did get him one. It's hard to put this in context, but he wasn't hinting, we just happened to be talking about Christmas presents we got over the years, etc. So I thought it would be a nice surprise, this was after all, a good friend I hadn't seen in over 20 years, so I thought "What the heck, I'll surprise him". At that point I wasn't broke mind you, he had not yet been staying here. I'm on a tight budget, but I allow myself to splurge on something with my credit card once a year, so I chose to splurge on that, not yet realizing I was about to go broke with him here.

So I gave it to him as an early Christmas gift. He was so shocked that he literally cried. He was dumbfounded that he had only casually mentioned this once, and I got it, vs his family that he had been asking for years. He was clearly VERY moved and was very emotional about it.

Okay, so it was too big, way too big. So I told him we'd exchange it after Christmas for the right size. Then everything went bad as you all know, and the jersey sat in the box and was forgotten about in all the stress. I had put it in my office for safe keeping until I could exchange it. When I asked him to leave, he packed his things and left the Jersey here. He didn't know where I had put it, and didn't ask about it. I'm sure he's thought of it, but probably doesn't have the nerve to ask.

So the question is.......

Should I just return it and get my money back since he owes me? Or would that be cruel, taking back a gift? My first thought is, of course return it for a refund, he owes me money. But then I can't help thinking that a gift is a gift, and taking back a gift seems rather spiteful. Plus, I do know it meant a lot to him, he actually cried when I gave it to him.

This question should probably be on the "Am I Irrational?" thread, but what do you guys think? A gift is a gift, or get a refund?

 

[thechickenchick]

Quote:
Sweetie you have a very kind heart and you bought that gift for a friend. He is no longer a friend. Take it back. YOu need the money way more than he deserves the jersey.

 

[Laurajean]

Quote:
Sweetie you have a very kind heart and you bought that gift for a friend. He is no longer a friend. Take it back. YOu need the money way more than he deserves the jersey.

Thank you. I just want to do what's fair, but I hate to take back a gift that seemed to mean so much to him. But neither do I want to be foolish, when $175 could pay a couple of my late bills.

 

[sourland]

I'm voting for getting the refund.

Humerectomy.(Had to add that, cause I loved it.)

 

[justbugged]

I agree get a refund. If it really meant that much to him he would have taken it with him, or at least mention it again. Given the fact that he spent way more by staying with you, and never offered to help you out. I am going to say all is fair. He had his chance.

 

[woodmort]

I'd return the jersey, take the money and pay the credit card. Then vow to never, never, never, again trust a Red Sox fan.

 

[redhen]

Quote:

 

[Mattemma]

Since you are late on bills I would get the refund and pay some bills.

I no longer have a FB account,but I will admit I looked up past friends and loves.No actual contact made.Guess I am lucky!