[QUOTE=stillldoinit;128383]
Quote Originally Posted by ranald View Post
It fires me up about folk who borrow gear & don't return it.
I have to Qualify the following story by saying I am a recovering alcholic, 40 years sober.
A couple years after I had gotten married we lived in a rental house next door to a couple about 10 years older than us and they had 2 young children. We became very good friends and after we moved a few times we still got together occasionally as friends do. Roger and I were out in the garage just hanging out and I happened to see a metal case skill saw laying on shelf under the workbench and I just commented, "I have had this saw for several years and I have no idea where it came from". Roger said, "It's mine, I loaned it to you about 15 years ago when we were neighbors". This conversation took place after I had been sober about 5 years. I may have borrowed tools or money from others when I was still drinking and in a blackout and anytime I need something, I always try to make sure that if it is borrowed to return in better condition than when taken, or just go buy unless high dollar value probably never needed again. Now if I loan something, I always think about my past. I had a friend who is in the same sober club as me that said that if someone asks to borrow money, he will just give them money never expecting to get it back, that way if it never comes back he has nothing to be angry about. I put my wife through hell the first 10 years of our marriage and spent the last 40 years making it up to her. Hopefully I haven't borrowed anything that hasn't been returned since that saw.
Bill In Buffalo
Thanks for your story, Bill. I really think you can move on and not be "recovering",:life is short & 40 years is a big chunk of anyones. Your partner is still beside you.

My previous wife & a friend both passed at age 38. I remember incidents like the one I posted and I think I've let them go but when I'm fired up I realize I still have to work on that "letting go" some more. I had a "friend" who really stuck it to me over his greed & cheating & i'm so glad & blessed that I didn't go into business with him afterall. I've forgiven him & I pop by for a coffee & chat ocassionally. Talking to him now, I see he hasn't changed & I realize & accept it's in his nature like "the scorpion & the frog" and dont bear any malice but will never trust him again. You might say 'forgiven but not forgotten'.