My new neighbor who lives right above me knocked on my door a few afternoons ago. She’s nice enough but apparently hasn’t figured me out yet.
“Do you have a spatula?” she asked.
“Yeah,” I replied. “I have a couple of them.”
“Could I borrow one?”
“No,” I said.
She stood there looking at me for a few seconds.
“No?”
“No you can’t borrow any of my spatulas.”
“Why not?”
“Remember when you first moved in and you borrowed some forks and spoons?” I said feeling annoyed. “You’ve never returned them to me.”
“Oh, I kind of forgot about that,” My neighbor said.
“I haven’t,” I replied. “There was a lady who used to live here and she borrowed some bowls and some of my cooking utensils and moved away taken them with her.”
“I would never do that,” she said.
“I don’t know that,” I replied. “Return the forks and spoons, and then I’ll think on the spatula.”
I closed the door on her still feeling annoyed. Back in October of this year, I wrote a CityBeat column on how I feel about borrowers. Apparently she hasn’t read it.
Just so you know, the neighbor who wanted to borrow the spatula still hasn’t returned those forks and spoons. I think I made a good judgment call.
(Photo from turbosquid.com)
I have worked too hard for the things I have to simply give them away. That is what loaning too turns out to be.
Good rule of thumb: Don’t loan out anything that you’re afraid you won’t get back. Just assume it is going to be a gift.
I don’t think I would want to borrow anything from you!!
This is also a pet peeve of mine, especially when it is made clear that I want the item being borrowed returned. I don’t loan out much anymore except to a few trusted friends. My new motto is TRUST NO ONE!
Your neighbor probably hasn’t returned those folks and spoons because she’s afraid to knock on your door. Let’s hope you don’t keep any weapons in the house.
You didn’t say it in your post, but I bet the woman was young. This is what I have noticed with young people. They have little respect for the property of somebody else. Good luck in getting those folks and spoons back.
Ol’ Ben Franklin had it right many years ago–”Neither a borrower or a lender be.”
What is it with you lately and these grumpy posts?
Yes, I really do know know to spell fork. Why I misspelled it three times I have no idea. I fixed it. . . Madison, I’m going to write a post here next week explaining my grumpy behavior and posts or at least I’ll try to.
Larry, I was wondering when you would catch that mistake
Being nice too often means giving away your processions. Wise up my friend. These people are using you and/or are foolish.