Reptile & Amphibian Forums

It was mentioned in Random Acts of Strangeness about only helping people you know - who would you be willing to help out?

...or if you can't publicly admit to not wanting to help a bum relative out for the sake of family peace (seems like most families one) - What is the strangest request for a helping hand you've ever heard?

BSM and I each have a compulsive shopper in our families who always seems to have a problem with cash flow. (You know it's out of hand when they prevent the house from being foreclosed on by making one massive return to Walmart for the cash) Offers to help have to be weighed carefully.

Recently he offered to lay new tile for a relative so they wouldn't have to pay someone to do it. (they turned him down, opting to stick with bare cement floors) but called him the same week to ask for cash for an unspecified reason. We turned them down.

The oddest request for help?

Probably when some guy with a British accent, an untailored suit and very expensive shoes came up to me at a bus stop while I was in college and asked me where he could find "nice girl" hookers. I pointed to a display rack for the local alternative newspaper across the street and told him to check the ads in the back. He thanked me and walked away.

Think it was a few years ago... my niece is a real whiz at math (unlike her aunt), and was told by her guidance counslor at school that she really should go to a private school. Think she was in the 6th to 8th grade, somewhere around there. My brother asked me if I wanted to pay for her education, which at the time was between $20 -30,000 yr!! Sheesh!!

I give pretty freely, but also smartly. Much smarter than the "Bank of Tammy" in my 20s, LOL...

My only brother: My Mom and Dad (divorced), and I helped him until we realized we weren't helping him by enabling him -- he needed to grow up and figure it out. We've not helped him financially for about 5 years now. He pretty much leaves us alone now and doesn't ask for money. He's probably still one paycheck from losing it all, not good managing money, but has a solid steady job.

My Mom: Since Mom fostered my brother's daughter Kylagh at a day old and ultimately adopted her when the birth mother changed her mind and walked away from her, I've been helping my barely above poverty level Mom and Step-father make ends meet the past 5 years. Adding Kylagh to the mix pushed them over the edge financially at some points. The amount was heavy at first, but the past few months they've managed without much help. However, he "retires" and both will be on Social Security as the only income in January. He must, he's become a crippled old man on this job and he must quit or he won't be around much longer. Mom is on Social Security now and is unable to work. She gets along well around the house and on grocery/errands, but can't be on her feet long stretches due to polio as a child. Kylagh starts school in August which will keep Mom off her feet more during the day.

I am single working a hateful job (stressful crisis management type job) because it pays more than I need as a single frugal woman and gives me health benefits. I live very thrifty planning ahead for their retirement and can free up money to help them long term as long as I survive this job...

Friends: Early on, I decided to not loan more than I was willing to just give someone as I might likely never see it again (couple people borrowed money and never paid back when I was younger). That amount is usually $200-$300 for friends not in my very tight circle of trust. There are a small handful of friends I'd loan more to (several hundred or a couple thousand), but I trust if they could they would pay me back -- and will eventually. They are also people I'd call if I were ever in a similar jam.
-----
Tammy and Pookey
(Stanley 8/91 - 8/07)

You know, your Brit asking for nice girl hookers did remind me of something from long ago...

When I was in the Air Force in Europe we were on a traveling maintenance team througout NATO bases and often worked with military from other countries. At one assignment, we worked with the Royal Air Force (British) in Germany. There were four of us Americans (two guys, two girls) that traveled on our team at the time and we struck up a friendship with two British Soldiers (Jeff and Nigel) and we'd all go out with them after work.

One evening, Jeff looked at Jane and I and said, "We'll knock you up at 7 and you can bring the faggots..." We did double take.

Knock you up didn't mean pregnant, it meant we'll knock on your doors at 7.

Faggots meant cigarettes (Jane smoked, I didn't).

-----
Tammy and Pookey
(Stanley 8/91 - 8/07)

Evidently come from a warped family; none of them would ever
ask for a loan. Of course, that's only cousins and none were
ever close. And, all started equal on the playing field as far as opportunity and resources. The ones with drug addictions have either died or live far off. The one with the "child" who's in and out of jail tries to keep it quiet and handles whatever bail via his own resources. Some of them have imposed great-grandchildren to be babysat five days a week by the oldest generation but they don't live anywhere near. I've sent gifts of money when seen a definite need or bought someone a plane ticket but never made it a loan.

>>>>>What is the strangest request for a helping hand you've ever heard?

The well-dressed guy trying to find a nice girl has to be a winner. Evidently have lived too quiet a life.