Therapy session

[bluedog225]

This has been weird. There was a gang from school. Some from elementary. Some from high school and college. Standard stuff. We hung out, drank beer, etc. Stayed close through college. Went on adult hiking trips before the spouses and kids, and though we don’t keep up often, still consider them my best friends. The kind of people I’d help no matter what or where or when. And their families, spouses, kids, etc.

Anyway, in the early 80s we were sharing an old house in Austin. A couple of them came to me and said there was a problem with the utility deposit. We all needed to kick in something like $125. This was 1983. Well sh!t. Ok.

Turns out it was bs. Don’t know what they needed the cash for but they straight up fibbed. Many of us got together recently. We were all telling stories and the one who I’d consider my closet friend said, “hey, remember when we got that money from you? Ha ha ha.” The other one looked terrified.

I’ve told then how f’ed up that was. Not so much mad, but damn. This is a problem for me. And a bigger loss that I would have thought. F’ing assholes.

[Joe (SoCal)]

You can’t pick your family and sometimes you pick the wrong friends. Sorry that happened to you, truly kinda douche.

FWIW I ONE friend from my grammar school days. I probably give him more slack than he deserves, but every now and then he surprises me with his oneness and generosity.

[johnw]

I think he told you so that if you do nothing, he can feel forgiven. Tell him he owes you money and interest.

[CWSmith]

I think he told you so that if you do nothing, he can feel forgiven. Tell him he owes you money and interest.

I agree. That's too much to be funny today and way too much to be funny back then.

[Ron Williamson]

They're your buds.
Don't demand money.If you do you'll be squared up and no one will owe anything
It's the perfect opportunity to bust their balls forever.

For example,"Are you lying bastards buying dinner?"
R

[Paul Pless]

​...

[David G]

I think he told you so that if you do nothing, he can feel forgiven. Tell him he owes you money and interest.

I suspect this is true. Guilty conscience ineptly attempting to address the situation.

But mostly, I'd be inclined toward Mr. Williamson's approach.

I've had people surprise me both ways... by being arfhules, and by being inhumanly angelic (far beyond expected or deserved).

[johnw]

They're your buds.
Don't demand money.If you do you'll be squared up and no one will owe anything
It's the perfect opportunity to bust their balls forever.

For example,"Are you lying bastards buying dinner?"
R

That's a better idea.

[ShorelineJohn]

I will only remind you, it was 40 years ago. I am not a perfect person, 40 years ago even more so.

If friends had to be perfect, There would be NO friends. Besides who would want perfect friends,
there would be nobody to give crap to!

[robm]

I think they should be buying the beer. Forever!

[Nicholas Carey]

They're your buds.
Don't demand money.If you do you'll be squared up and no one will owe anything
It's the perfect opportunity to bust their balls forever.

For example,"Are you lying bastards buying dinner?"
R

I was thinking along the same lines. Buy me a beer and cut a check for $125 to Médecins Sans Frontières or some other legitimate charity, and we're good.

The tale of what he needed the cash for, though, should be part of the session at the pub. A cleansing of the soul.

[Canoeyawl]

What did they do with the money?
That might be interesting...

not to mention:
$125 in 1983 is equivalent in purchasing power to about $377.56 today, an increase of $252.56 over 40 years. The dollar had an average inflation rate of 2.80% per year between 1983 and today, producing a cumulative price increase of 202.05%.