What a great day!
 

I have this acquaintance that I have known for 40 years. Steve.

He is a hard worker and smart in some ways while dumb as a post in many others. He has been at poverty level his entire life. He lives in a shack that he actually owns outright. Probably the only thing he has ever done right. Steve is the real life example of Jerry in Conspiracy Theory. Whenever he came to a fork in the road he seemed to always take the wrong path.

Over the years I have taken him under my wing and helped him whenever I could. When he needed a new roof on the shack I paid for it. New (used) car to replace his broken down clunker I bought him one. We would come to terms on payback and he always paid me back in full. It might have taken years but he always met his commitment to pay me back. When his mom, Aunt June is what I called her, passed I paid for her burial. No strings attached. I owed her that much.

Years ago when I bought a new laptop I gave him my old Compaq laptop. He was like a duck to water. He used that thing to self teach himself the hardware and software workings. He is pretty damn impressive. I offered to pay for any and all Vo Tech classes to help him get some certs. He declined. He said he already knew everything they could teach him. I said if he already knew everything the course would be easy to pass. He still declined. He does computer work out of the shack and makes a token living. He also does sprinkler system repairs and basic stuff like faucet replacement. He has never been on any type of government assistance, a miracle in itself.

I have spoken with him and his wife (basically a worthless ex bar whore that showed up on his doorstep and he took her in like a lost puppy) about how to change their life. That they can't eat out damn near every day. Can't smoke a couple of cartons a week or an oz of pot a month. How they can't have premium plus cable and the fastest internet around. He refused any and all of my suggestions.

I should have thrown in the towel years ago. But I didn't.

So today I get a text.

"I have finally realized what you saw long ago. I am sorry it took me so long to wake up. I am cutting off cable and making major changes in my life. I am smoking very little now and hope to completely stop by the end of the month. Many more changes to come. Thank you for helping me."

That took some balls.

What a great day!

I had a friend like that. He was a brilliant mechanic. Always helped me when I asked. Of course I would always give him some cash even though he would never ask me. He never participated in the system. Doing small cash jobs when he felt like working. This meant he had no health care or social security. He died suddenly from years of undiagnosed high blood pressure causing an aeortic aneurysm. He was 71

I like it. Friendship can be lopsided and that is ok. I am going through something similar only my friend is very successful financially with some of the same problems as your friend plus other issues...

I am sure you know, but now is the perfect time to not press for results.

Well done.

Yes, a great day for two great friends.

Good for you for hanging in there with someone you believe in. Extra good that he is realizing the potential you see.
Great day for both of you!

Sometimes you win...worse for wear and tear... but that's cool.

Nicely done...SOL ;)

Cool story on many levels. Thanks!

Thanks for taking care of your friend - through the good and the bad.

That's what you do when you are a friend.

Full circle - dividends paid!

Much respect to all.

That’s great, but beware the rebound.

Almost nobody turns their life around the first try.

I have found that you can have the best advice in the world but the best teacher is experience. With kids I would always point out the choices and most likely consequences and then let them have at it. When they picked wrong I didn’t have to say anything.

Glad your friend eventually listened. You are a saint

SOL - You are a great person to be so generous. Happy you are seeing results.

I always said you can fix money problems by giving someone money.........

In part, because you didn't give up, without judging, he didn't give up either.

I hope he follows through... Well done.

Thanks for the kind words.

One thing about Steve is that no one can out work him. I am sure his motto is "Work harder, not smarter ".

In the past when he has said that he will do something he always comes through and does exactly what he says he was going to do.

I hope the same holds true in this case.

Nice story and I have one that's a little similar that maybe I'll go into later.

However, we may be at the end of your story, the part where your friend no longer needs you, and he becomes too much like yourself to hang with.

Perhaps the bird has flown out of the shoe box (another story) and what you have is your memory of times past.

I hope he no longer needs me. If the bird flies the nest and is never seen again I am fine with that. I would still consider that a complete and totsl success.

If that is not the case I will still be there to offer support when needed.

your username applies to your buddy.

You should give it to him and change yours to. “Patience galore”

Good on the both of you.

SOL - your last message speaks volumes of your character.

A great day indeed !